Steve Bannon, a former ally of former US President Donald Trump, has been convicted of contempt charges for defying a congressional subpoena from the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol.
Key points:
- The prosecution stated that Bannon willfully ignored the clear and explicit terms
- Each contempt charge is punishable by 30 days to one year behind bars and a large fine.
- The sentence is set for October 21
A jury found Bannon, 68, guilty of two misdemeanor counts for refusing to hand over testimony or documents to a House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, rampage of Trump supporters that they tried to reverse the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Each count of contempt of Congress is punishable by a sentence of 30 days to a year behind bars, as well as a fine of $100 to $100,000 ($145 to $145,000).
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols set an Oct. 21 sentencing date.
Bannon was a key adviser to Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign as the Republican nominee, then served as White House chief strategist in 2017 before a falling out between the two that was later patched up. Bannon has also played a pivotal role in right-wing media.
He had initially argued that his testimony was protected by Mr Trump’s claim of executive privilege.
But the House panel and Justice Department say that claim is dubious because Mr. Trump had fired Bannon from the White House in 2017 and Bannon was therefore a private citizen when he consulted with the then-president in the run-up to to the riots on January 6, 2021.
Bannon’s lawyers tried to argue during the trial that he did not refuse to cooperate and that the dates “were changing.”
“It’s nothing but a show trial,” Bannon told reporters as he left one of the court sessions before his sentencing. (Reuters: Jonathan Ernst)
They pointed to the fact that Bannon had reversed course shortly before the trial began, after Trump dropped his objection, and had offered to testify before the committee.
In closing arguments on Friday morning (local time), both sides re-emphasized their main positions in the trial.
The prosecution argued that Bannon deliberately ignored clear and explicit deadlines, and the defense claimed that Bannon believed those deadlines were flexible and subject to negotiation.
Bannon’s lawyer, Evan Corcoran, told jurors in his closing arguments on Friday that those terms were mere “placeholders” while lawyers on each side negotiated the terms.
Corcoran said the committee “rushed to judgment” because it “wanted to make an example of Steve Bannon.”
The defense asked for acquittal on Thursday, saying the prosecution had failed to prove its case.
In presenting his motion for acquittal before Judge Nichols, Bannon’s attorney, Corcoran, said that “no reasonable jury could conclude that Mr. Bannon refused to comply.”
ABC/children