Steve Bannon, a longtime ally of former President Trump, is scheduled to report to a federal prison in Connecticut on Monday to serve a four-month sentence for contempt of Congress. Bannon was found guilty of defying a subpoena from the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th Capitol riot.
The conviction stemmed from Bannon’s refusal to comply with a subpoena demanding his testimony and documents related to his involvement in Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Bannon’s defense argued that the subpoena was invalid because Trump had asserted executive privilege, but the court rejected this claim.
Despite numerous appeals, including a last-minute attempt to stay his sentence, Bannon’s appeals were ultimately unsuccessful. The Supreme Court rejected his final appeal, leaving him with no further options to avoid prison.
In an emergency motion filed last month, Bannon’s lawyer accused the government of seeking to imprison him specifically during the lead-up to the November elections, effectively hindering his ability to serve as a political advisor. The motion highlighted Bannon’s role as a high-profile political commentator and strategist, emphasizing the political implications of his imprisonment.
Bannon’s surrender deadline coincides with the Supreme Court’s expected release of its ruling in a case concerning Trump’s immunity from prosecution for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. The Court also recently ruled in favor of a participant in the Jan. 6 riot who challenged his conviction for obstruction.
Despite the prison sentence, Bannon’s legal battle is not over. He plans to continue his appeal, and Republican House leaders have expressed their support for his argument that the Jan. 6 committee was improperly constituted, rendering the subpoena illegitimate.
Bannon is not the only Trump aide facing contempt charges. Peter Navarro, a former trade advisor, was also convicted of contempt of Congress and began serving a four-month sentence in March.
In addition to the contempt charges, Bannon is facing separate criminal charges in New York state court alleging he defrauded donors who contributed to building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges, and his trial has been postponed until at least the end of September.
