WASHINGTON — Steve Bannon, a longtime adviser to former President Donald Trump, was found guilty of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
The verdict — in the first trial over a refusal to cooperate with the committee — was reached by a jury in Washington after three hours of deliberation Friday. The weeklong trial included only two witnesses for the government. Bannon’s attorneys decided not to call any witnesses in his defense.
Bannon, 68, a prominent right-wing media figure who is credited with helping Trump win the presidency, had no visible reaction as the verdict was read. During the course of the trial, he said little in the courtroom — electing not to testify on his own behalf — but he never missed an opportunity to meet with the press on the courthouse steps.
