Steve Bannon's Appeal to Pause His Prison Sentence Denied by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon's effort to avoid prison while appealing his contempt of Congress conviction.

The court issued a brief order with no noted dissents, according to CNN.

Bannon, a conservative podcast host and former Trump strategist, had requested a pause on his prison sentence.

Still, a federal judge ordered him to turn himself in by July 1 for a four-month sentence.

Bannon must report to federal prison on Monday after the Supreme Court dismissed his last-ditch petition to delay his sentence while challenging his conviction for defying a House committee subpoena investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

In July 2022, Bannon was found guilty of ignoring the subpoena and sentenced to four months in prison, initially allowed to remain free during his appeals process.

However, last month, a federal appeals court upheld his conviction, and Judge Carl J. Nichols ordered him to begin serving his sentence.

Bannon's lawyers argued that he would serve his entire sentence before the Supreme Court could hear his appeal.

The court's term ends on Monday, and Bannon is not expected to be released until just before the November election.

Bannon's Prison Conditions and Pending Trials

Steve Bannon will serve his four-month sentence at a low-security federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut, instead of the minimum-security camp he sought.

His conviction stems from refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Capitol riot.

Bannon argued he was following his lawyer's advice, who claimed executive privilege invoked by then-President Trump, but courts ruled no privilege existed since Trump had left office.

Bannon, assigned inmate number 05635-509, is expected to surrender on Monday with the help of his prison consultant, Sam Mangel, The Daily Beast reports.

Unlike Peter Navarro, who began his sentence in March, Bannon will face a stricter schedule with less freedom and more dangerous inmates.

Additionally, Bannon's separate criminal detainer requires him to report to a low-level facility due to his upcoming trial in Manhattan for allegedly defrauding supporters of the "We Build the Wall" movement.

Legal Battles Intensify for Trump Allies

Steve Bannon's conviction parallels the case of Peter Navarro, another former Trump adviser, who is nearing the end of his four-month prison term in Miami.

Both faced contempt of Congress charges for refusing to cooperate with the House panel investigating the January 6 Capitol attack, the New York Times noted.

The committee wanted to question Bannon and Navarro about their coordination with Republican members to challenge the election results and Bannon's remarks predicting chaos on January 5, 2021.

Bannon was found in contempt in October 2021 and later blamed his lawyer for advising him to defy the panel.

Bannon, a staunch Trump ally and vocal supporter of his reelection bid, argued he relied on his attorneys' advice regarding Trump's claims of executive privilege.

However, the Justice Department stated Bannon showed "total noncompliance" with the subpoena.

Steve Bannon faces an upcoming trial in Manhattan for allegedly misusing funds raised for Donald Trump's border wall initiative, further complicating his legal battles.

His case highlights the broader legal challenges that Trump's former aides and advisers face, emphasizing the serious consequences of defying congressional subpoenas.

As Bannon prepares for prison, more trials and potential convictions loom, reflecting the judicial system's stringent approach to contempt charges.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

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