Steve Bannon, the former chief executive of the Trump 2016 campaign, has been found guilty of contempt after ignoring a subpoena issued to him by the House Select Committee. The committee is investigating the attempted insurrection and attack on the US capitol on January 6, 2021.
A jury took just under three hours (including lunch) to find Stephen K. Bannon, 68, guilty of two counts of contempt of congress (a misdemeanour under United States Federal law) for failing to appear for a deposition and refusing to provide materials in October 2021.
Bannon initially claimed his conversations with former President Donald J. Trump fell under "executive privilege", which prevents communications between presidents and their advisers from being disclosed to facilitate candid advice. However, the House panel and the Justice Department contend such a claim is dubious as Bannon was not in the Whitehouse in the run-up to the riots and, as such, was a private citizen.
Read more: Bannon found in contempt of Congress over Capitol attack probe
He will now face a minimum of thirty days in jail, and a maximum possible sentence of a year in prison, for each charge. A fine of between $100 and $100,000 could also be issued. Bannon's Lawyer has said he will appeal.
The Independent reports that Bannon told reporters outside the court: "We may have lost the battle here today, but we're not going to lose this war."
The riot at the capitol building claimed the lives of several people and is being investigated by a committee made up of both Republican and Democratic members of the House of Representatives, including the Vice Chair, Representative Liz Cheyney (R), and Chairman, Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D).
Steve Bannon served in Trump's Whitehouse until it was mutually agreed he would leave in 2017. The then-president went on to refer to him as "Sloppy Steve", but Bannon has remained a staunch ally of Trump and reportedly an unofficial advisor. He also hosts the "Bannon's War Room" podcast.
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