On Friday, a district court in the United States sentenced Steve Bannon to four months in prison and pay a $6,500 fine for contempt of Congress following his refusal to cooperate with the lawmakers’ investigation of the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The ex-aide to former US president Donald Trump will not have to serve his sentence right away and has been allowed to remain free while he appeals his guilty verdict by US District Judge Carl Nichols. Bannon was found guilty on two charges which included refusing to testify or providing documents to the House of Representatives committee during the investigation of the attack.
Bannon chose not to testify during the hearing or address the judge prior to his sentencing. However did show up at the court and told the press gathered outside the courtroom “Remember, this illegitimate regime, their judgment day is on (November 8),” this statement was in reference to the upcoming mid-term election in the US.
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According to reports, the Department of Justice had recommended a six-month sentence and a fine of $200,000 against Bannon citing his, “sustained, bad-faith contempt of Congress.” The memo sent by the department to the court also points out how, “By flouting the Select Committee’s subpoena and its authority, the defendant exacerbated that assault.”
Similarly, the prosecutors had also sought a six-month sentence as Prosecutor J.P. Cooney during Friday’s hearing highlighting the importance of the case said, Bannon, “is not above the law, and that’s what makes this case important.” The prosecutors called two witnesses while Bannon’s team called none.
The former Trump adviser’s attorney David Schoen said that Bannon did not comply with the subpoena after the former president invoked executive privilege, which does not allow some of the White House communications from being disclosed to the public.
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However, the prosecutor argued, “He chose to hide behind fabricated claims of executive privilege and advice of counsel to thumb his nose at Congress.” Notably, Bannon during the attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters was acting in an official capacity.
The defence also argued that he was being prosecuted for his political motives. However, the judge did not allow these assertions that Bannon relied on executive privilege and advice from his lawyers not to comply with the congressional subpoena.
Reports suggest that prior to the sentencing Judge Nichols asserted that the offence is subject to a minimum of one month in jail. The congressional subpoena reportedly sought any documents related to the former president or allies including Rudy Giuliani, or extremist far-right groups such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.
(With inputs from agencies)
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