The U.S. Supreme Court Friday denied ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon’s request to remain out of prison while he continues to appeal his contempt of Congress conviction.
Bannon earlier this month was ordered by U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols to report to prison by July 1 to begin serving his four-month sentence.
Bannon was sentenced to four months 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.
After Bannon was sentenced, Nichols agreed to postpone the jail term while Bannon appealed the conviction.
Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon speaks on stage during “Turning Points: The People’s Convention,” June 15, 2024, in Detroit.
Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images
He ordered Bannon to report to prison after the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Bannon’s conviction last month.
Bannon last Friday filed an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in an attempt to remain out of prison.
The Supreme Court provided no vote breakdown in its decision to deny his request.
ABC News’ Katherine Faulders and Laura Romero contributed to this report.
Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon’s prison sentence is set to begin after the Supreme Court denied his request for a delay. Bannon was convicted of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the January 6th Capitol riot.
Bannon had been sentenced to 60 days in prison, but had been fighting the sentence in court. His lawyers argued that he should be allowed to remain free while he appeals the conviction, but the Supreme Court ultimately rejected his request.
The decision means that Bannon will have to report to prison to begin serving his sentence. It is a significant development in the case, as Bannon had been a key figure in former President Donald Trump’s inner circle and had been a vocal supporter of Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Bannon’s conviction and impending prison sentence have raised questions about the accountability of those who played a role in the events of January 6th. Many have criticized Bannon for his role in spreading false claims about the election and for his support of the rioters who stormed the Capitol.
The Supreme Court’s decision to deny Bannon’s request for a delay sends a strong message that no one is above the law, regardless of their political connections or influence. It serves as a reminder that those who break the law will be held accountable, no matter how powerful they may be.
As Bannon prepares to begin his prison sentence, it remains to be seen what impact his conviction will have on other figures involved in the events of January 6th. The case serves as a warning to others who may be tempted to defy the law or obstruct justice, and it underscores the importance of upholding the rule of law in a democratic society.
