Steve Bannon, a former advisor to Donald Trump, is set to begin a four-month prison sentence on contempt of Congress charges as his appeal proceeds. This makes him the second Trump White House aide to serve prison time in connection with defying a subpoena from the House Jan. 6 committee.
Bannon was convicted by a federal jury in Washington, D.C., for failing to appear for a deposition before the Jan. 6 panel and refusing to turn over subpoenaed documents.
Despite his impending prison sentence, Bannon continues to express doubts about the legitimacy of the 2024 election results. He believes that all bets are off until November's election is adjudicated and reviewed.
Bannon's trial judge had previously granted him a delay in his sentence due to a federal law that keeps defendants free if their appeal presents a substantial legal question likely to result in a reversal or new trial. However, after the first stage of Bannon's appeal failed in May, the judge granted prosecutors' request to end the pause and ordered Bannon to begin his sentence by July 1.
Bannon has since filed emergency delay motions until he exhausts his appeal. He argues that there is no denying the fact that the government seeks to imprison him for the four-month period immediately preceding November's presidential election, and he believes that even if Joe Biden wins, his supporters will not accept the result unless Trump is declared the victor.
Bannon's conviction came after a long legal battle over his refusal to comply with subpoenas related to the House Select Committee investigation into January 6, 2021, Capitol attack by Trump supporters. The Supreme Court on Friday denied Bannon's emergency effort to delay reporting to prison while he challenges his conviction.
