Steve BannonAn old ally of the former president Donald Trumpwas found guilty Friday of contempt of court for defying a congressional subpoena from the House Committee to Investigate January 6 rebellion in US Capitol Building.
Bannon, 68, was convicted after a four-day trial in federal court on two counts: one for refusing to appear as a testimony and a second for refusing to submit documents in response to a subpoena from the committee.
The jury of 8 men and 4 women deliberated in less than three hours.
He faces up to two years in federal prison when he is sentenced October 21.
Each number carries a minimum sentence 30 days in prison.
David SchoenAccording to one of Bannon’s lawyers, the ruling will not apply.
“This is the first round,” Schwinn said. “You will see this case reversed on the appeal.”
Likewise, Bannon himself said, “We may have lost the battle here today; We will not lose this war. “
Thanking the jurors for their service, he said he was only disappointed by one–“And that’s the brave members of that show trial committee, J-6 . Committee He didn’t have the guts to come down here and testify.”
Prosecutors were firm on the other side of the ruling.
“Summon order Stephen Bannon It was not an invitation that could be refused or ignored.” Matthew GravesThe US attorney general in Washington said in a statement. Mr Bannon had an obligation to appear before him House Selection Committee To testify and submit documents. His refusal to do so was deliberate, and the jury has now found that he must pay the consequences.”
The commission sought Bannon’s testimony regarding his involvement in Trump’s efforts to overthrow 2020 Presidential election.
Steve Bannon’s initial argument
Bannon initially argued that his testimony was protected by Trump’s claim for executive privilege. But the home plate and Department of Justice The claim that such an allegation is questionable because Trump fired Bannon from White House in 2017, and thus Bannon was a private citizen when he was consulting with the then president in the run-up to the riots in January 6, 2021.
Bannon’s lawyers tried to argue during the trial that he did not refuse to cooperate and that the appointments “It was in a state of flux. “
They pointed to the fact that Bannon reversed course shortly before the trial began – after Trump dropped his objection – and offered to testify before the panel.
In closing arguments on Friday morning, the parties reaffirmed their initial positions on the trial.
The prosecution asserted that Bannon deliberately ignored clear and explicit deadlines, and the defense claimed that Bannon believed these deadlines were flexible and subject to negotiation.
Bannon was presented with a summons on September 23 Last year, he ordered him to submit the required documents to the commission by October 7 and appear in person by October 14.
Bannon was indicted in November on two counts of criminal contempt of Congress, a month after the Justice Department received a House committee referral.
Bannon’s lawyer Evan Corcoran He told the jurors Friday in his closing arguments that those deadlines were just “placeholders” while lawyers on each side were negotiating terms.
Corcoran said the committee “scrambled to judgment” because it “wanted to set an example from Steve Bannon”.
Corcoran also hinted that the government’s main witness is the commission’s chairperson’s advisor on January 6 Kristen AmerlingHe was personally biased.
Amerling admitted on the podium that she will be for the rest of her life Democrat He had been friends with a prosecutor for years.
January 6 Chairman of the Committee Benny Thompson, D-Miss. It was a special target for Bannon and his defense team.
Steve Bannon criticizes Benny Thompson
His name was mentioned several times during the trial, though US District Judge Carl Nichols The defense cautioned against claiming in court that the commission itself was politically biased.
Bannon harshly criticized Thompson by name in his daily statements outside the courtroom, at one point suggesting that Thompson COVID-19 The diagnosis last week was fake to avoid pressure to show up.
Thompson and the Committee Vice President Liz CheneyRyu, praised the ruling in a statement, calling it “a victory for the rule of law and an important confirmation of the work of the hybrid commission.”
“Just as there must be accountability for all those responsible for the events of January 6, so anyone who obstructs our investigation into these matters must face consequences,” they said. “Nobody is above the law. “
Prosecutors focused on the chain of letters exchanged between the January 6 commission and Bannon’s attorney.
The correspondence shows that Thompson immediately rejected Bannon’s claim that he was exempt from Trump’s claim for executive privilege and Bannon’s explicit threat of criminal prosecution.
“The defense wants to make this difficult, difficult and confusing,” he said. Assistant US Attorney Amanda Vaughn In its closing statement. “It’s not difficult. It’s not difficult. There were only two witnesses because it seems simple.”
Thursday’s defense filed an acquittal, saying the prosecution had not substantiated its case.
Corcoran, Bannon’s attorney, while filing his petition for acquittal before Judge Nichols, said that “no reasonable juror could conclude that Mr. Bannon refused to comply.”
Once the motion was submitted, the defense halted its case without presenting any witnesses, telling Nichols that Bannon saw no point in testifying because the judge’s previous rulings had spoiled his planned avenues of defence.
Among other things, Bannon’s team was prevented from claiming that Bannon believed he was protected by executive privilege or to call witnesses. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi or members of Parliament.
.
[ad_2]
