Steve Bannon slammed as his bid to delay 4-month prison sentence rejected amid contempt conviction appeal

WASHINGTON, DC: On Thursday, June 20, a federal appeals court panel declined former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon's request to avoid going to prison while he appeals his conviction for defying a subpoena from the House committee that investigated the US Capitol attack.

An ever-ardent ally of former President Donald Trump, Bannon is required to start serving his four-month sentence for contempt of Congress by July 1, per CBS News.

US District Judge Carl Nichols, appointed to the bench by former President Trump, recently granted prosecutors' request to imprison Steve Bannon. This decision came after a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit affirmed Bannon's conviction last month.

Bannon's lawyers asked the appeals court to allow him to remain free while he continues to challenge his conviction, possibly including an appeal to the United States Supreme Court.

However, in a 2-1 decision on Thursday, the DC Circuit panel ruled that Bannon's case "does not justify an exception" to the standard practice of defendants starting their sentence following conviction.

Judges Cornelia Pillard, appointed by former President Barack Obama, and Bradley Garcia, nominated by President Joe Biden, cast their votes to send Steve Bannon to prison.

Judge Justin Walker, nominated by former President Donald Trump, dissented, arguing that Bannon should not be compelled to begin serving his sentence until the US Supreme Court decides whether to hear his case.

The ‘War Room’ podcast host is expected to petition the Supreme Court to delay his prison term.

When was Steve Bannon convicted and why?

Steve Bannon was found guilty two years ago of two counts of contempt of Congress.

This included one charge for refusing to participate in a deposition with the January 6 House Committee, and another for failing to provide documents related to his involvement in attempts by former president Trump to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss to his Democrat political adversary, Joe Biden.

During the trial, Bannon's attorney argued that the former Trump adviser did not ignore the subpoena.

Instead, they asserted that Bannon was engaged in good-faith negotiations with the congressional committee at the time he was charged.

The defense team also argued that Bannon's actions were guided by advice from his attorney, who believed Bannon could not testify or provide documents because of Trump's invocation of executive privilege.

Bannon's legal team contends that the case poses significant legal questions that will likely need to be addressed by the Supreme Court.

However, they also mentioned that Bannon will likely have completed his prison sentence by the time the case reaches that stage.

In legal filings, Bannon's lawyers also asserted that there is a "strong public interest" in allowing him to remain free leading up to the 2024 election because Bannon is a key adviser to Donald Trump's 2024 campaign.

Bannon's attorneys also contended that the Justice Department's effort to imprison him at this juncture gives the impression that the government is seeking to hinder Bannon from fully participating in the campaign and expressing views on significant matters.

They further suggested that it appears the government aims to exact retribution before the potential conclusion of the Biden Administration.

Prosecutors, in contrast, stated in court documents that Bannon's "role in political discourse" is immaterial to the legal proceedings.

"Bannon also cannot reconcile his claim for special treatment with the bedrock principle of equal justice under the law," prosecutors wrote. "Even-handed application of the bail statute requires Bannon's continued detention."

Additionally, a second Trump aide, trade adviser Peter Navarro, is presently serving a four-month prison sentence for contempt of Congress.

Navarro, too, claimed that he couldn't cooperate with the committee due to Trump invoking executive privilege.

However, the judge prohibited him from making that argument at trial, finding that he couldn’t demonstrate how former President Trump had actually invoked it.

The House January 6 committee's final report stated that former President Donald Trump criminally participated in a "multi-part conspiracy" to overturn the lawful results of the 2020 election and failed to act to stop his supporters from attacking the Capitol.

This concluded an extensive 18-month investigation into the ex-president and the violent insurrection.

Internet abuzz as Steve Bannon's bid to delay 4-month prison sentence rejected by federal appeals court panel

One X user remarked, "He deserves to be in jail, much more than he was given as jail time."

Another user said, "It’s about time he does time. Should be for much longer, but we’ll take what we can get."

A user wrote, "Thank god. Finally. He needs to start serving time now, and our country needs a break from his vitriolic rhetoric, if even for 4 months."

One X user claimed, "Let's see if SCOTUS has to have a bite of the apple first."

Another user quipped, "Looks like 'heads on pikes' Bannon is finally going to pay the piper."

Finally, this user tweeted, "These guys are getting way too many appeal attempts. Anyone else and their a*s would be in jail already."

 

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