Steve Bannon gets 4 months for contempt of Congress after defying subpoena

Former Trump White House strategist Steve Bannon was sentenced to four months in prison and ordered to pay a $6,500 fine Friday for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House select committee investigating last year’s Capitol riot — but the sentence will be suspended while Bannon’s expected appeal plays out.

US District Judge Carl Nichols passed sentence on the 68-year-old, agreeing with federal prosecutors that Bannon had not expressed remorse and emphasizing the need to incentivize cooperation with congressional probes.

“Others must be deterred from committing similar crimes,” the judge said, adding that sentencing guidelines were clear that contempt of Congress is subject to a mandatory minimum of at least one month of incarceration.

Friday’s sentence was less than the six months in prison and $200,000 fine prosecutors had asked for, but well above the suspended sentence of probation Bannon’s attorneys had requested.

Nichols said he would allow Bannon to voluntarily surrender to serve his prison term once the status of his appeal is resolved. If Bannon doesn’t appeal, he would need to report to prison by Nov. 15.

Bannon, who didn’t testify during his trial, also declined to make a statement during the hearing, saying that his lawyers had spoken for him.

Outside the DC courthouse, a large crowd had gathered to await the sentence, with some chanting “lock him up” and “traitor” as Bannon emerged.

Bannon attorney David Schoen said that he and his client “fully respect” the judge’s ruling but would appeal. Schoen called the judge’s stay of Bannon’s sentence “extraordinary,” and added that the appeal will be “bulletproof.”

Prior to sentencing, a jovial Bannon chatted with the media and supporters as he strutted into the courthouse.

“Remember, this illegitimate regime, their judgment day is on 8 November, when the Biden administration ends … By the way, and remember: Take down the CCP,” Bannon said as he arrived at the courthouse, using the acronym for the Chinese Communist Party.

Steve Bannon arrival for sentencing ….
Bannon: "Their judgment day is on 8 November, when the Biden administration ends. By the way, and remember: Take down the CCP."

Bannon made similar remarks after his sentencing, repeating that Nov. 8 would be the Biden administration’s “judgement day” and predicting that Attorney General Merrick Garland will soon be impeached and removed from office. 

The former Breitbart News executive chairman was found guilty in July of two counts of contempt of Congress for refusing to sit for a deposition and provide documents to the congressional investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol.

Bannon’s lawyers had initially argued that former President Donald Trump’s claim of executive privilege shielded him from having to give testimony or provide documents to the committee.

Bannon made an 11th-hour offer to cooperate with the committee on the eve of his trial, claiming Trump had waived executive privilege to allow him to testify. 

Federal prosecutors called the move “a hollow gesture” and said Bannon’s “cooperative spirit vanished” when he realized his “stunt” wouldn’t stop the trial from taking place.

Bannon was convicted by a jury after a four-day trial.

Friday’s sentencing took place exactly one year after the House voted to hold Bannon in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with the subpoena.