Bannon Found Guilty Of Contempt Of Congress—Could Face Two Years In Prison

Topline

A Washington, D.C., jury found former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon guilty of contempt of Congress Friday over his failure to comply with a subpoena from the January 6 committee, which could result in up to a two-year prison sentence following a brief trial in which prosecutors argued that Bannon “chose allegiance to Donald Trump over compliance with the law.”

Steve Bannon holds forth to the media as he departs federal court in Washington on Thursday.

Jose Luis Magana/AP

Key Facts

The jury deliberated for less than three hours after closing arguments Friday, and a guilty verdict was widely anticipated after Bannon’s legal team did not call any witnesses in his defense.

Bannon was found guilty on two contempt counts: one count for failing to turn over records to the committee and the other for never showing up to testify.

Each count carries a minimum prison sentence of 30 days and a maximum of a year behind bars.

Bannon is expected to appeal.

What To Watch For

A sentencing hearing is set for October 21.

Surprising Fact

Bannon is the first person convicted at a trial of contempt of Congress since G. Gordon Liddy in 1974, who was found guilty for his role in the Watergate scandal.

Key Background

Bannon repeatedly asserted he could not comply with the subpoena the committee issued in September because his conversations with former President Donald Trump are protected by executive privilege. But U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, who presided over the trial, rejected that argument and did not allow Bannon’s lawyers to bring up executive privilege claims in front of the jury. The ruling left Bannon’s team with effectively no defense. Evan Corcoran, Bannon’s attorney, at one point resorted to suggesting January 6 committee chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson’s (D-Miss.) signature on the subpoena was somehow a forgery. Bannon was one of the first individuals the committee subpoenaed as part of its investigation into the storming of the Capitol on January 6, as it’s believed Bannon was a close confidant of Trump leading up to the riot. The committee revealed at a hearing earlier this month that Bannon and Trump had two phone conversations on January 5. Shortly after the first call, Bannon went on his radio show and declared: “All hell is going to break loose tomorrow.”

What We Don’t Know

Whether Bannon still plans to testify before the January 6 committee. In an abrupt about-face, Bannon said earlier this month that Trump was waiving his executive privilege claim, clearing him to testify. But the decision may have just been a legal maneuver to try to get the trial delayed.