Former Trump Adviser Steve Bannon Ordered to Serve Prison Time for Contempt of Congress

Former top aide to ex-President Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, has been instructed by the court to begin his prison term by July 1 for his refusal to cooperate with Congress in the inquiry into the Capitol riot on Jan. 6.

The conservative figure, known for his association with the MAGA movement and once at the helm of Breitbart News, has been sentenced to four months behind bars after being found guilty of contempt of Congress back in 2022. This implies that Bannon, a prominent voice in right-wing circles, will be incarcerated for a significant portion of Trump’s upcoming presidential campaign.

Steve Bannon now becomes the second individual from Trump’s administration to face imprisonment for failing to comply with document requests and participation in the investigation. Previously, former trade adviser Peter Navarro was also sentenced to four months for similar violations.

Following a declined appeal to overturn his misdemeanor conviction, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, appointed by Trump, issued the order on Thursday. Bannon had been out on bail during the appeal process but was put behind bars after the federal appeals court dismissed his plea.

The judge declared that Bannon’s appeal did not raise a substantial legal question and therefore revoked his bail. Bannon and his legal team have a limited time frame to challenge the bail revocation and contest his conviction.

Steve Bannon was held in contempt of Congress for his non-compliance with the subpoena demanding documents for a legislative panel investigating the events leading to the Capitol breach. Bannon had maintained that his legal counsel advised him not to obey the subpoena, therefore arguing that he did not commit an offense. However, the courts ruled otherwise.

Outside the courtroom, Bannon suggested the ruling was politically driven, alleging that the goal was to suppress the MAGA movement and conservative grassroots support, particularly targeting Trump. He remained defiant, stating that no prison term would silence him, confidently proclaiming victory for the movement on the election day.

After the three-judge panel of D.C.’s Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Bannon had not ‘willfully’ defied the subpoena, validating his conviction, the sentence of four months in jail and a $6,500 fine was upheld. Originally, prosecutors sought a harsher penalty due to Bannon’s blatant disregard for the committee’s demands.

During Bannon’s sentencing, his close allegiance to Trump was highlighted, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gaston noting that Bannon prioritized his loyalty to Trump over adhering to the law. Judge Carl Nichols remarked that Bannon showed no remorse for his actions and emphasized the committee’s right to investigate the Jan. 6 events.

Notably, Bannon received a last-minute pardon from Trump on his final day in office for a prior legal issue related to misleading donors about funding for a border wall, diverting the contributions for personal use.

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