BOOM: Bannon sentenced to 4 months in prison by a tRUMP Judge for contempt of Congress
By Tierney Sneed, Matt Meyer, Aditi Sangal, Holmes Lybrand and Melissa Macaya, CNN
Updated 2:45 PM EDT, Fri October 21, 2022
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What we're covering here
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon was sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of Congress after defying a subpoena from the Jan. 6 committee. He was also fined $6,500.Bannon will not have to serve the sentence until the appeal of his conviction plays out, the federal judge said, fulfilling the ex-Trump aide’s request. Bannon was also seeking probation. The sentence is less than what federal prosecutors sought. The Justice Department wanted Bannon to be sentenced to six months and be fined $200,000.Bannon was found guilty in July of two counts of contempt of Congress. Friday’s sentencing is a milestone moment in the DOJ’s Jan. 6 response, as prosecutors say by “flouting” the subpoena, Bannon “exacerbated” the assault on the rule of law that the US Capitol attack amounted to.
6 min ago Key things to know about Bannon's sentencing today — and what happens next From CNN staff
Stephen Bannon leaves federal court after being sentenced to four months in prison on October 21 in Washington, DC.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon appeared in a federal court in Washington, DC, on Friday and was sentenced for contempt of Congress after defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
Here’s what you need to know about today’s sentencing — and what happens next:
Guilty on two counts: A federal jury found Bannon guilty in July of contempt for refusing to appear for the panel’s deposition and produce documents. The conviction was a victory for the House committee as it aimed to seek cooperation of reluctant witnesses in its historic investigation.
The sentence: Judge Carl Nichols – a Trump appointee – sentenced Bannon to four months on each count — running concurrently — along with a fine of $6,500. The sentence is less than what federal prosecutors sought. The Justice Department wanted Bannon to be sentenced to six months and be fined $200,000.
He won’t serve his sentence anytime soon: After Bannon was sentenced, the federal judge said the ex-Trump aide wouldn’t have to serve his sentence until the appeal of his conviction plays out, which is what Bannon had requested.
What both sides said in court: Federal prosecutors argued that Bannon should be dealt a $200,000 fine — above the $1,000-100,000 guideline and the statutory maximum for the two counts of contempt he is facing. They pointed to Bannon’s refusal to provide the probation office with details about his finances. In presenting their points, they said that citizens have put themselves in harm’s way all the time to comply with subpoenas, but Bannon “suffered no such threats” and “thumbed his nose at Congress.” Meanwhile, Bannon’s attorney David Schoen pushed back on the idea that a lack of remorse from Bannon should warrant a harsher punishment. He claimed Bannon was upholding American values and the institutions of government, including the White House.
What happens next: Bannon has 14 days to file his appeal, the judge said. If he doesn’t file that appeal, then Bannon will have to make arrangements to surrender voluntarily no later than Nov. 15. Bannon’s attorneys have already made clear they planned to appeal his conviction to the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.
How Bannon reacted: Bannon decided not to speak in court, but the former Trump adviser briefly addressed reporters outside after the hearing, saying voters would cast their own verdict on Democrats and the Justice Department in the midterm elections in November. “Today was my judgment day by the judge,” Bannon said. “On Nov. 8, there’s going to (be) judgment on the illegitimate Biden regime … and quite frankly, Nancy Pelosi and the entire (House Jan. 6) committee.”
Trump subpoena: As Bannon’s sentencing unfolded today, former President Donald Trump also faced a showdown with the panel. The Jan. 6 committee announced on Friday that the panel had officially subpoenaed Trump to try to compel him to sit for a deposition under oath and to provide documents. |
