Judge slaps Steve Bannon with jail time for ignoring January 6 subpoena

Washington DC - Former Donald Trump White House strategist Steve Bannon was sentenced to four months in prison following his contempt of Congress conviction.

Former Donald Trump White House strategist Steve Bannon was sentenced to prison for contempt of Congress.
Former Donald Trump White House strategist Steve Bannon was sentenced to prison for contempt of Congress.  © Collage: CHIP SOMODEVILLA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Bannon had previously defied a subpoena to testify in front of the House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. Bannon also refused to turn over documents that the Committee requested.

At Friday's sentencing hearing, US District Judge Carl Nichols reportedly also slapped Bannon with a $6,500 fine, and ruled that he will not have to serve his sentence until the expected appeals process runs its course.

The four-month sentence and fine amount was below the recommended sentence by federal prosecutors, who had asked that Bannon be sentenced to six months in prison and pay $200,000 for "his sustained, bad-faith."

Trump hit with gag order after taking shots at daughter of hush money trial judge
Donald Trump Trump hit with gag order after taking shots at daughter of hush money trial judge

Bannon had asked to be sentenced to probation.

Friday's proceedings mark Bannon as one of the most prominent figures to be sentenced to jail time for charges related to the January 6 attack.

When he entered the courthouse on Friday, CBS News' Scott MacFarlane reported that Bannon told bystanders, "Remember this is an illegitimate regime. Their judgment day is on the 8th of November when the Biden administration ends." He also told reporters that while he respected the judge's decision, he disagreed with the conviction, adding that his legal team will be starting the "vigorous appeals process."

Bannon has long held that he couldn't testify or provide documents to the House Committee due to executive privilege, even though he was not working at the White House on the day of the attack on the US Capitol. Bannon left the White House in 2017 after an ongoing feud with former President Trump reached its ultimate breaking point.

Cover photo: Collage: CHIP SOMODEVILLA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

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