Longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon was taken into custody Monday after surrendering at a federal prison to begin a four-month sentence on contempt charges for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the U.S. Capitol attack. Bannon arrived at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, around noon and was formally taken into federal custody, the Bureau of Prisons said.
Quick Read
- Steve Bannon, a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump, surrendered to federal authorities on Monday to begin serving a four-month sentence for contempt of Congress.
- Bannon arrived at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, around noon and was formally taken into federal custody, according to the Bureau of Prisons.
- Speaking to reporters, Bannon described himself as a “political prisoner,” claimed Trump was “very supportive” of him, and criticized Democrats, including Attorney General Merrick Garland.
- Bannon stated he was “proud of going to prison” and was “standing up to the Garland corrupt DOJ.”
- A small group of supporters, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, gathered outside the prison, cheering and holding flags and signs supporting Bannon, while a small group of protesters shouted, “Lock him up!” and “traitor!”
- A judge had allowed Bannon to remain free for nearly two years while he appealed but ordered him to report to prison after an appeals court panel upheld his convictions.
- The Supreme Court rejected Bannon’s last-minute appeal to delay his sentence.
- Bannon was found guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the Jan. 6 House Committee.
- Defense attorneys argued the case raised issues that should be examined by the Supreme Court, including claims of executive privilege asserted by Trump.
- Prosecutors countered that Bannon had left the White House years earlier and that Trump had never invoked executive privilege before the committee.
- Bannon’s appeal will continue, and Republican House leaders support challenging the legitimacy of the Jan. 6 committee’s subpoena.
- Peter Navarro, another Trump aide, has also been convicted of contempt of Congress and reported to prison in March for a four-month sentence.
- Bannon faces additional criminal charges in New York state court for allegedly defrauding donors in a border wall fundraising campaign, with that trial postponed until at least the end of September.
The Associated Press has the story:
Steve Bannon surrenders to federal prison to serve 4-month sentence on contempt charges
Newslooks- DANBURY, Conn. (AP) —
Longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon was taken into custody Monday after surrendering at a federal prison to begin a four-month sentence on contempt charges for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the U.S. Capitol attack. Bannon arrived at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, around noon and was formally taken into federal custody, the Bureau of Prisons said.
Speaking to reporters, Bannon called himself a “political prisoner,” said former President Donald Trump was “very supportive” of him and slammed Democrats, including Attorney General Merrick Garland.
“I am proud of going to prison,” Bannon said, adding he was “standing up to the Garland corrupt DOJ.”
Shortly before he arrived to surrender, a small group of supporters, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, gathered on the side of the road outside the prison. They cheered as Greene and Bannon spoke during a news conference, holding up flags and signs supporting Bannon as a small group of protesters shouted, “Lock him up!” and “traitor!”
A judge had allowed Bannon to stay free for nearly two years while he appealed but ordered him to report to prison Monday after an appeals court panel upheld his contempt of Congress convictions. The Supreme Court on Friday rejected his last-minute appeal to stave off his sentence.
A jury found Bannon guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress: one for refusing to sit for a deposition with the Jan. 6 House Committee and a second for refusing to provide documents related to his involvement in the Republican ex-president’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.
Defense attorneys have argued the case raises issues that should be examined by the Supreme Court, including Bannon’s previous lawyer’s belief that the subpoena was invalid because Trump had asserted executive privilege. Prosecutors, though, say Bannon had left the White House years before and Trump had never invoked executive privilege in front of the committee.
Bannon’s appeal will continue to play out, and Republican House leaders have put their support behind stepping in to assert the Jan. 6 committee was improperly created, effectively trying to deem the subpoena Bannon received as illegitimate.
Another Trump aide, trade adviser Peter Navarro, has also been convicted of contempt of Congress. He reported to prison in March to serve his four-month sentence after the Supreme Court refused his bid to delay the sentence.
Bannon is also facing criminal charges in New York state court alleging he duped donors who gave money to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Bannon has pleaded not guilty to money laundering, conspiracy, fraud and other charges, and that trial has been postponed until at least the end of September.
