WASHINGTON—Former White House strategist Steve Bannon has been found guilty of contempt of Congress by a jury in Washington.
Jurors convicted Bannon, who worked in the Trump administration, on two counts.
Bannon faces up to two years in prison. Sentencing will take place on Oct. 21.
Before Bannon’s trial, the last criminal contempt of Congress case took place in 1983, according to the Congressional Research Service.
The case stemmed from Bannon’s refusal to comply with a subpoena demanding documents and testimony. The subpoena was issued by the House of Representatives panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.
Panel members alleged that Bannon has information that would help their investigation.
Bannon offered to comply once the question of executive privilege, which had been asserted by former President Donald Trump, was resolved.
Bannon was indicted in late 2021, several weeks after the House voted to hold him in contempt.
In closing arguments, prosecutors said the evidence was clear that Bannon failed to comply with a lawful subpoena.
“This case is not complicated but it is important. This is a simple case about a man—that man, Steve Bannon—who didn’t show up. Why didn’t he show up? He didn’t want to provide the January 6 committee with documents, didn’t want to recognize the government’s authority,” Molly Gaston, one of the prosecutors, told the jury. “Why is this important? Government only works if people show up, play by the rules, and are held accountable when they do not.”
Evan Corcoran, a lawyer representing Bannon, said that there’s no evidence Bannon was connected to the breach and that his client was in negotiations to appear before the panel before the contempt vote. He also questioned whether Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chairman of the panel, had signed the subpoena.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
From The Epoch Times
