Steve Bannon, a former top strategist and campaign chair to Donald Trump, was sentenced Friday in U.S. federal court to four months in prison on contempt of Congress charges.
Bannon refused to co-operate with the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol. He was convicted earlier this year after a four-day trial in federal court in Washington on two counts: one for refusing to appear for a deposition and the other for refusing to provide documents in response to the committee’s subpoena.
Bannon, also ordered to pay a $6,500 US fine, faced up to two years in federal prison. Each count carried a minimum sentence of 30 days in jail.
Carl Nichols, a federal judge appointed by Trump, stayed the verdict pending Bannon’s appeal, which means the 68-year-old won’t immediately serve time behind bars.
Bannon on his way into court railed against what he called an “illegitimate regime,” whose “judgment day” would come in two weeks when the U.S. midterm elections take place.
More to come