Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon has been ordered by a federal judge in Washington, D.C. to report to prison by July 1st, 2023. This ruling comes after Bannon's appeal of his contempt of Congress conviction was unanimously rejected by a three-judge panel in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The case has garnered widespread attention, as it represents a high-profile clash between the former president's inner circle and the legislative branch's investigative powers.
Bannon's refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House Select Committee probing the January 6th Capitol attack has landed him in legal jeopardy, with the courts now firmly siding with the government's position.
Read: Federal Court Denies Steve Bannon’s Appeal On Contempt Of Congress Charges
In July 2022, a jury in Washington, D.C. found Bannon guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress for his defiance of the House Select Committee's subpoena. The congressional investigators were particularly interested in Bannon's communications with former President Donald Trump and his role in the events surrounding the January 6th insurrection.
Following the conviction, Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, sentenced Bannon to four months in prison and imposed a $6,500 fine. However, the judge initially stayed the execution of the sentence, pending Bannon's appeal.
Bannon's defense team argued that he should not be required to serve his prison sentence while the appeals process was ongoing. They contended that Bannon's "advice of counsel" defense, which claimed he was following the legal advice of his attorney, warranted further review by higher courts.
Read: Steve Bannon Spars With Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina Over Contempt Vote
The defense team asserted that the case raised "serious constitutional issues" that should be decided by the entire D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals or even the Supreme Court. They argued that if Bannon were to be sent to prison, he would serve his time before any further review of the conviction was completed, causing "irreparable and unjust" harm.
In May 2023, the three-judge panel in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld Bannon's conviction, rejecting his arguments. The judges ruled that the "advice of counsel" defense Bannon sought was "unavailable under this statute," as the court's longstanding interpretation of "willfully" in contempt of Congress cases requires a "deliberate, intentional failure to respond to a subpoena."
The panel's decision was described as a "full-throated" endorsement of the legal precedent applied during Bannon's jury trial, leaving little room for further legal challenges.
With the appeals court's ruling, the Justice Department returned to Judge Nichols' court and asked him to lift the stay on Bannon's four-month prison sentence. Prosecutors argued that the conviction had been upheld, and there was no longer a "substantial question of law" that would warrant further delay in Bannon's imprisonment.
After hearing the arguments, Judge Nichols agreed with the government's position and revoked Bannon's bail. The judge ordered the former Trump adviser to self-surrender and report to prison by July 1st, 2023.
Read: Rep. Gaetz Denounces Bannon’s Outcome As Product Of Left-Wing Political Retribution
Bannon's legal team expressed deep disappointment with the judge's decision, stating that the case raises "serious constitutional issues" that should be reviewed by higher courts. Bannon himself vowed that "there is not a prison built or a jail built that will ever shut me up," suggesting he plans to continue his legal battle even after serving his sentence.
The ruling is seen as a significant victory for the Justice Department and the House Select Committee's investigation into the events of January 6th. It underscores the courts' willingness to hold accountable those who defy congressional subpoenas, even if they are closely affiliated with the former president.
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