Former Trump White House official Steve Bannon has been denied his appeal by the Supreme Court, which has ordered him to report to federal prison next week. The high court’s decision comes after Bannon’s last-ditch effort to remain a free man was rejected. Bannon, 70, was convicted nearly two years ago on two counts of contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with the House panel investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and for failing to provide requested documents to the Democrat-led select committee.
The Supreme Court’s brief order stated, “The application for release pending appeal presented to The Chief Justice and by him referred to the Court is denied,” with no dissents noted. Bannon’s four-month sentence is set to begin on July 1, and he will serve his time at a low-security federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut.
This ruling makes Bannon the second Trump White House aide to face imprisonment for defying a subpoena from the House Jan. 6 committee. Former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro began serving his four-month sentence in March after his petition to the Supreme Court was also rejected.
Bannon, who was fired by Trump less than a year into his administration, later reconciled with the former president and both promoted allegations of election fraud in the 2020 election. Trump pardoned Bannon just before leaving office on January 20, 2021, for federal fraud and money laundering charges related to a private fundraiser held by his former chief strategist, supposedly to fund the construction of the US-Mexico border wall.
The Supreme Court’s decision to deny Bannon’s appeal and uphold his conviction further underscores the legal consequences faced by individuals who refuse to cooperate with congressional investigations. Bannon’s case serves as a reminder that no one is above the law, regardless of their political affiliations or previous positions of power.
1 Response
As someone who closely followed the political events during the Trump administration, the news of Steve Bannon being denied his appeal by the Supreme Court and ordered to report to federal prison next week was not entirely surprising to me. It serves as a reminder of the consequences that can come with being involved in controversial political activities.
During his time as a White House official, Bannon was known for his influential role as the chief strategist for President Donald Trump. His presence was often met with both praise and criticism, as he was