Stephen Bannon, a close ally of former President Donald J. Trump, began his four-month prison sentence on Monday, July 1, for defying a congressional subpoena issued by the committee investigating the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. This comes after the Supreme Court dismissed his last effort to avoid incarceration.
Judge Amit P. Mehta dismissed Bannon's primary defense that he was protected by executive privilege and directed by Trump not to cooperate.
Bannon's Role in January 6 Planning
Bannon was involved in devising plans to challenge the 2020 election results, including the Green Bay Sweep. This strategy aimed to disrupt the certification of the election by encouraging Republican lawmakers to contest results in swing states. Bannon's vocal doubts about the election's legitimacy and his podcast remarks foreshadowing chaos on January 6 caught the House committee's attention. Bannon's refusal to provide documents and testimony also led to the House voting to hold him in contempt, followed by a grand jury indictment.
Other Legal Troubles
Bannon joins other Trump associates facing legal troubles, including Peter Navarro, who is serving a similar sentence, and Trump himself, recently convicted on 34 felony charges. Additionally, Bannon is set for another trial in Manhattan, accused of misusing funds raised for Trump's border wall project.
