A US federal judge on Thursday, June 6, issued an order requiring former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon to report to prison by July 1.
Bannon’s conviction for contempt of Congress in 2022 stemmed from his failure to provide documents and testimony to the House Select Committee investigating the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack. He received a four-month prison sentence.
Initially, the federal judge overseeing the case, Carl Nichols, had temporarily halted the sentence while Bannon appealed the conviction. However, last month, a DC Circuit Court of Appeals panel unanimously rejected Bannon’s challenges to the case. Prosecutors promptly urged Nichols to enforce Bannon’s prison term.
In Thursday’s proceedings, Nichols stated that, in light of the appeals court’s ruling, he no longer believed there was a basis to suspend Bannon’s sentence. Despite an ongoing appeal, Nichols, appointed by Trump, asserted his authority to lift the hold on Bannon’s sentence.
Following the hearing, Bannon pledged to continue his legal battle, expressing his determination to contest his contempt of Congress conviction, even suggesting he would take the case to the Supreme Court if necessary. Bannon alleged, without evidence, that his prosecution was politically motivated, aimed at silencing the MAGA movement and President Trump’s supporters.
Prosecutor John Crabb argued that Bannon had not met the legal threshold to delay his prison term while his appeal was pending. Crabb cited the unsuccessful attempt by another former Trump adviser, Peter Navarro, to halt his sentence, which was rejected by both the DC Circuit and the Supreme Court.
During the hearing, Bannon’s attorney, David Schoen, contended that his client should remain free until the Supreme Court reviewed the case. Schoen also announced plans to file a request for the full DC Circuit Court of Appeals to review Bannon’s case by June 24.
Judge Nichols differentiated Navarro’s case from Bannon’s, emphasizing that three appeals court judges had unanimously dismissed the arguments raised by Bannon. With Bannon’s surrender date approaching, he may pursue emergency motions with the appeals court and the Supreme Court in a bid to delay his prison term further.
