A federal appeals court panel has rejected Steve Bannon's appeal to remain out of prison while he challenges his conviction for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the U.S. Capitol attack. Bannon, a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump, is set to report to prison by July 1 to serve a four-month sentence for contempt of Congress.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, appointed by Trump, recently granted prosecutors' request to send Bannon to prison following a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upholding his conviction. Despite Bannon's legal team's efforts to keep him out of prison during his appeal process, a 2-1 decision by the D.C. Circuit panel determined that Bannon must begin serving his sentence after conviction.
Bannon's attorney plans to seek relief from the Supreme Court to delay his prison term. The case stems from Bannon's refusal to comply with a congressional subpoena related to the January 6 House Committee investigation and his failure to provide requested documents regarding efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
During the trial, Bannon's defense argued that he was in good-faith negotiations with the committee and was following legal advice that he couldn't testify or produce documents due to executive privilege invoked by Trump. Bannon's legal team contends that the case raises significant legal issues that may need Supreme Court resolution, though Bannon is likely to have served his sentence by then.
Prosecutors have emphasized the importance of equal justice under the law and have dismissed arguments about Bannon's role in political discourse. Another Trump aide, Peter Navarro, is already serving a four-month prison sentence for contempt of Congress, claiming inability to cooperate due to executive privilege, a defense rejected by the court.
The House Jan. 6 committee's final report concluded that Trump was involved in a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results and failed to prevent the Capitol attack. The legal battles involving Bannon and Navarro underscore the ongoing fallout from the events of January 6 and the broader implications for accountability in American politics.
