Former President Donald Trump’s longtime ally Steve Bannon appealed his criminal conviction for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Bannon’s attorney argued he didn’t ignore the subpoena, but was trying to avoid running afoul of executive privilege objections Trump had raised.
Quick read
- Stephen Bannon’s Criminal Conviction Appeal:
- Bannon appealed his conviction for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.
- His attorney argued Bannon was following legal advice to avoid conflicting with Trump’s executive privilege claims.
- Prosecution’s Argument:
- Prosecutors contended Bannon, not a White House employee at the time, refused to cooperate with the committee.
- They argued he deliberately chose not to comply with the lawful subpoena.
- Case Under Review by Appeals Court:
- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is currently reviewing the case.
- Bannon’s Conviction and Sentence:
- Convicted in July 2022 on two counts of contempt of Congress, Bannon was sentenced to four months in prison.
- The sentence is on hold pending the appeal, with the judge expressing expectations of case overturn.
- Other Trump Aide’s Conviction:
- Peter Navarro, another Trump aide, was convicted of contempt of Congress and plans to appeal.
- House Jan. 6 Committee Findings:
- The committee concluded its work with a final report accusing Trump of a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election results.
- It detailed Trump’s failure to act during the Capitol attack.
- Bannon’s Separate Trial:
- Bannon faces a separate trial in May on money laundering, fraud, and conspiracy charges related to the “We Build the Wall” campaign.
- He pleaded not guilty, with allegations of misusing donations meant for the U.S.-Mexico border wall.
The Associated Press has the story:
Steve Bannon appeals conviction in Jan. 6 committee contempt case
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP)
Former President Donald Trump’s longtime ally Steve Bannon appealed his criminal conviction for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Bannon’s attorney argued he didn’t ignore the subpoena, but was trying to avoid running afoul of executive privilege objections Trump had raised.
“Mr. Bannon acted in the only way he understood from his lawyer that he was permitted to behave,” attorney David Schoen said, adding that Bannon was wrongly blocked from making that argument at trial.
Prosecutors, though, said Bannon was no longer working at the White House during the runup to Jan. 6 and refused to work with the committee to determine if there were questions he could answer. “Stephen Bannon deliberately chose not so comply in any way with lawful congressional subpoena,” said prosecutor Elizabeth Danello.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit took the case under consideration.
Bannon, 69, was convicted in July 2022 of two counts of contempt of Congress and later sentenced that October to four months in prison. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols put the sentence was on hold as his appeal played out, later saying in court documents he expected the case to be overturned.
A second Trump aide, trade advisor Peter Navarro, was also convicted of contempt of Congress this past September and has also vowed to appeal. The House panel had sought their testimony about Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
The House Jan. 6 committee finished its work in January, after a final report that said Trump criminally engaged in a “multi-part conspiracy” to overturn the lawful results of the 2020 election and failed to act to stop a mob of his supporters from attacking the Capitol.
Bannon is also set to go on trial next May on separate money laundering, fraud and conspiracy charges in New York related to the “We Build the Wall” campaign. He has pleaded not guilty.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he falsely promised people that all donations would go toward building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Instead, prosecutors allege that the money was used to enrich Bannon and others involved in the project.
