West News Wire: Former Donald Trump strategist Steve Bannon received a four-month prison term and a $6,500 fine for contempt of Congress-related offenses. The charges derive from Bannon’s reluctance to produce information or appear before the House of Representatives committee looking into the Capitol Hill rioting on January 6.
US District Judge Carl Nichols issued the sentence on Friday, with Bannon being given a reprieve while he files an appeal. His defense team stated that it will do so, and it has two weeks to do so.
Bannon was convicted of two charges of contempt of Congress back in July for refusing to appear before the House Select Committee as demanded.
Commenting on Friday’s verdict, Prosecutor J.P. Cooney said that Bannon chose to “thumb his nose at Congress.” He “is not above the law, and that’s what makes this case important,” the official added.
Trump’s former adviser conceded that “today was my judgment day by the judge,” adding, however, that “on November 8, they are going to have judgment on the illegitimate Biden regime, and quite frankly, [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi and the entire committee,” an apparent reference to the upcoming midterm elections. During the vote, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate will be up for grabs.
According to the January 6 congressional committee, Bannon had spoken with Trump at least twice on the day preceding the unrest. He is also believed to have said on his podcast that “all hell is going to break loose tomorrow.”
A conservative firebrand, Bannon played a pivotal role in articulating Trump’s ‘America First’ ethos. The ex-adviser is known to be a fierce critic of the Biden administration.
