Steve Bannon, former adviser to President Donald Trump, is set to report to prison on July 1, 2024, to begin serving his four-month sentence for contempt of Congress.
The contempt charges stem from Bannon’s refusal to comply with subpoenas issued by the House Select Committee investigating the attack on the Capitol. Bannon had argued that he did not comply due to executive privilege concerns raised by Trump. He stated that his former attorney had advised him not to respond to the subpoena because of potential privilege issues.
“The defendant chose allegiance to Donald Trump over compliance with the law,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gaston, who now serves on special counsel Jack Smith’s team, told jurors during closing arguments in 2022.
Bannon’s sentence was initially put on hold while he appealed the case. However, his appeal was rejected by a three-judge federal appeals court panel. Following this rejection, federal prosecutors filed a motion asking Judge Nichols to order Bannon to report to prison.
In response to this motion, Bannon’s legal team argued that the sentence should be stayed until they could appeal it to the full appeals court and the Supreme Court. However, Judge Nichols revoked Bannon’s bail and stated that he could “no longer conclude that Bannon’s appeal raises a substantial question of law.” This statement came after the appeals court panel upheld the jury’s conviction of Bannon on contempt of Congress charges.
“U.S. District Judge Carl said Thursday he did not believe that the “original basis” for his stay of the imposition of Bannon’s sentence existed any longer after an appeals court upheld Bannon’s conviction,” reported a news outlet.
It’s worth noting that Bannon is set to go to trial on separate state charges in New York later this year. This case involves allegations that he defrauded donors who gave money to build a wall on the southern U.S. border.
In a post on his Truth Social website, Trump said the sentence is a “Total and Complete American Tragedy” and suggested that the members of the Jan. 6 committee be prosecuted instead “Total and Complete American Tragedy,” Trump wrote, reflecting his opinion on Bannon’s sentence.
The case of Steve Bannon marks a significant moment in American politics. As Bannon prepares to serve his sentence, the nation watches to see how these events will unfold and what they will mean for the future of American politics. The case of Steve Bannon is far from over, and its implications will likely continue to reverberate in the months and years to come.
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