A federal judge on Thursday has ordered Donald Trump's former top advisor, Steve Bannon, to serve his four-month sentence for a criminal contempt of Congress conviction by July 1.
Ex-Trump Strategist: Steve Bannon
Bannon was convicted of contempt in July 2022 for defying a subpoena to testify before the congressional panel investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters. Regarded as one of the masterminds behind Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, Bannon was convicted in October 2022 and sentenced to four months in prison but has remained free pending his appeal since then.
The 70-year-old, speaking outside the Washington courthouse, asserted his resilience, declaring that nothing can shut him down, be it a prison or jail built. He also expressed optimism about winning the upcoming presidential elections on November 5, following the judge's ruling.
A Four-Month Prison Sentence
The order would imprison Bannon, 70. At the same time, his former boss awaits his sentencing on July 11 in the Manhattan hush-money case, which could potentially result in prison time for Trump just four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Trump, 77, and his supporters have claimed that Democrats are manipulating the US legal system to bolster President Biden's reelection bid, which they perceive as facing challenges.
DC US District Judge Carl Nichols, who Trump appointed, directed Bannon to fulfill his punishment on two counts of Congress contempt for disregarding the Democrat-led select committee's request for testimony and documents.
Nichols pointed out that Bannon could still petition for a stay of the order stipulating his prison reporting date, potentially postponing his punishment. During the trial, Bannon's legal team unsuccessfully contended that he was open to negotiating with the select committee before facing charges.
Who is Steve Bannon?
Bannon held the position of Chief Strategist at the White House during the initial seven months of Trump's administration and departed reportedly due to conflicts with other high-ranking staff members.
In 2020, he faced charges of wire fraud and money laundering for allegedly misappropriating millions of dollars meant for the construction of a border wall with Mexico, diverting the funds for personal gain. All others implicated in the scheme were convicted, but before leaving office in January 2021, Trump granted Bannon a blanket pardon, resulting in the dismissal of the charges against him.
Another former Trump aide, ex-West Wing trade adviser Peter Navarro, also faced a contempt of Congress conviction and commenced his four-month prison term in March. Navarro defied a subpoena issued by a committee in the US House, which was investigating purported attempts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 election. In September, Navarro was found guilty of two instances of contempt of Congress for his refusal to adhere to a subpoena, which demanded the documents and testimony provision to a Democrat-led House of Representatives panel.
