Trump ally Steve Bannon sentenced to 4 months in prison over contempt of Congress case

Steve Bannon, former chief White House strategist and campaign CEO to former President Donald Trump, has been sentenced to four months in prison. 

On Friday, a Washington DC jury convicted Mr Bannon on two counts of criminal contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the House Select Committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. He must also pay $6,500 in financial penalties.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols granted the defence’s request that Mr Bannon be allowed to remain free pending appeal.

The Justice Department had sought a six-month prison term and recommended a maximum fine of $200,000. 

“From the moment that the Defendant, Stephen K. Bannon, accepted service of a subpoena from the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol … he has pursued a bad-faith strategy of defiance and contempt,” prosecutors said in court documents.

In July, Mr Bannon was convicted on contempt of congress charges. He had refused to comply with a subpoena from a congressional panel probing the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, DC.

The panel’s subpoena demanded documents or communications relating to Mr Trump and close colleagues, including lawyer Rudy Giuliani and groups such as the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers.