A federal appeals court panel has denied Steve Bannon’s request to stay out of prison while he appeals his conviction for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the U.S. Capitol attack. Bannon is set to begin his four-month sentence for contempt of Congress by July 1.
Despite Bannon’s lawyers’ attempts to keep him out of prison until the Supreme Court hears his case, the court ruled 2-1 against him. Judges Pillard and Garcia voted in favor of sending Bannon to prison, while Judge Walker dissented, arguing he should not serve time until the Supreme Court decides on his case.
Bannon’s conviction stems from his refusal to cooperate with the Jan. 6 House Committee by sitting for a deposition and providing documents related to Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. His legal team claims he was in good-faith negotiations and following advice from his attorney regarding executive privilege.
This decision has implications for Bannon’s involvement in the 2024 election, as he is a key adviser to Trump’s campaign. However, prosecutors argue that political relevance should not factor into his incarceration. Another Trump aide, Peter Navarro, is already serving a prison sentence for similar contempt charges.
The controversy surrounding Bannon’s imprisonment highlights the ongoing legal battles related to the January 6th insurrection and the former president’s role in the events leading up to it.