A federal judge will consider the Department of Justice’s request to have former Trump adviser Steve Bannon begin his four-month prison term in connection with his contempt of Congress conviction.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols is scheduled to hear arguments today in Washington, D.C.
Bannon was sentenced to four months for contempt of Congress in October 2022 after he was found guilty of defying a subpoena from the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, but Judge Nichols agreed to postpone the jail term while Bannon appealed the conviction.
After the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Bannon’s conviction last month, federal prosecutors requested that the judge order Bannon to begin his four-month sentence.
Steve Bannon, former adviser to Donald Trump, during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Md., Feb. 24, 2024.
Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE
Prosecutors have said there is no legal basis for Judge Nichols to continue the stay on Bannon serving his sentence after the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals’ conclusive ruling that rejected the basis for Bannon’s appeal on all grounds.
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“Consequently, there is no longer a ‘substantial question of law that is likely to result in a reversal or an order for a new trial,'” prosecutors wrote in a filing last month.
Bannon is expected to attend the hearing.
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon is facing the possibility of serving time in prison as a federal court evaluates whether he should commence his prison term. Bannon was convicted of contempt of Congress after refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House committee investigating the January 6th Capitol riot.
Bannon’s refusal to cooperate with the committee’s investigation led to his indictment and subsequent conviction in November of last year. He was sentenced to 60 days in prison, but has remained free pending an appeal of his conviction.
Now, the court is set to evaluate whether Bannon should begin serving his prison term or if he will be allowed to remain free while his appeal is pending. The decision will have significant implications for Bannon and could set a precedent for how other individuals who refuse to comply with congressional subpoenas are treated.
Bannon’s case has been closely watched as it raises important questions about the limits of executive privilege and the power of Congress to compel testimony from witnesses. The court’s decision will likely have far-reaching consequences for future investigations and the ability of Congress to hold individuals accountable for their actions.
Bannon’s legal team has argued that he should be allowed to remain free while his appeal is pending, citing concerns about his health and the potential impact of serving time in prison. However, prosecutors have pushed for Bannon to begin serving his sentence, arguing that he has shown a lack of remorse for his actions and should be held accountable for his defiance of Congress.
As the court evaluates Bannon’s case, it will be important to consider the broader implications of its decision. The outcome could have a significant impact on the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of government, as well as on the ability of Congress to conduct meaningful investigations into matters of public interest.
Ultimately, the court’s decision will shape how future cases of contempt of Congress are handled and could have a lasting impact on the relationship between the branches of government. It remains to be seen what the court will decide, but one thing is clear: the outcome of Bannon’s case will have far-reaching consequences for the future of congressional oversight and accountability.
