Former White House official Steve Bannon’s appeal of his contempt of Congress conviction was denied, meaning he will still have to serve jail time for ignoring a subpoena from the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit said granting Bannon’s appeal would hinder Congress’s investigatory authority. Bannon claimed he acted on his legal team’s advice and did not intend to break the law, but the court ruled that the “advice of counsel” defense is not a defense at all. Bannon was sentenced to four months in prison and a $6,500 fine for ignoring the congressional subpoena.
After the sentencing, Bannon said he respected the judge’s decision and had been respectful throughout the legal process. Despite the ruling, Bannon’s attorney, David Schoen, stated that they would appeal, arguing that there are important constitutional issues at stake in the case. Schoen highlighted that Bannon’s former attorney advised him not to respond to the subpoena because executive privilege had been raised and it was not his privilege to waive it. Schoen emphasized that individuals should not be criminally prosecuted and sent to prison for following legal advice that they believed allowed them to comply with a congressional subpoena.
Other Trump administration officials, such as former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, have also reported to prison for contempt of Congress. Navarro expressed willingness to serve his four-month sentence and drew strength from his support for former President Trump. Bannon’s attorney Schoen emphasized the importance of not prosecuting individuals who follow legal advice that they believe allows them to comply with congressional subpoenas. Schoen argued that the court’s decision was wrong as a matter of law and reflected a dangerous view of criminal liability for defendants in the country who may be facing similar situations in the future.
Bannon plans to appeal the court’s decision and continue fighting his sentence. Schoen pointed out that Bannon’s former attorney had advised him not to respond to the subpoena due to concerns over executive privilege. Additionally, Schoen raised concerns about the broader implications of the court’s ruling on future cases involving congressional subpoenas. As Bannon’s legal battle continues, the controversy surrounding his contempt of Congress conviction and refusal to comply with the subpoena remains a focal point of discussion and debate.
The denial of Bannon’s appeal of his contempt of Congress conviction has upheld his sentence of four months in prison and a $6,500 fine for ignoring a subpoena from the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Bannon’s attorney has indicated that they will continue to fight the ruling, citing important constitutional issues at stake in the case and raising concerns about the threshold for criminal liability for defendants in similar situations. As the legal battle unfolds, the impact of Bannon’s conviction and refusal to comply with the subpoena on future cases involving congressional subpoenas remains a topic of debate and scrutiny.
