Former Trump aide Steve Bannon to be sentenced
Steve Bannon, the former top aide to Donald Trump, is set to be formally sentenced today.
This summer, a jury found Bannon guilty of deliberately disobeying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the January 6 attack. Justice Department (DOJ) prosecutors have urged US District Judge Carl Nichols to impose the maximum fine of $200,000 and a six-month jail sentence. Prosecutors referred to Bannon’s public rhetoric about the select committee throughout his criminal proceedings, such as using his podcast, the War Room, and courthouse press conferences to disparage the investigation.
Bannon initially tried to defend himself by arguing that he could not comply with the subpoena because President Trump had exerted privilege over his testimony. However, Judge Nichols will likely implement the recommended sentence as he has already dismissed Bannon’s defense in pretrial rulings.
The sentencing may influence other investigations, as Bannon is only one of several Trump allies who have refused to comply with subpoenas. Former advisor Peter Navarro has also been indicted by the DOJ for contempt of Congress and may face similar consequences. However, experts predict that a potential prison sentence for Bannon may only bolster his credibility among the far-right crowd, evidenced by the fact that his podcast remains popular.
