Donald Trump ally Steve Bannon sentenced to jail for contempt of Congress | World News

Donald Trump's former aide Steve Bannon was sentenced Friday to 4 months in jail for refusing to testify within the congressional probe of the January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol.

One of many masterminds behind Trump's 2016 presidential marketing campaign and victory, Bannon was discovered responsible on two counts of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena to testify over the riot by the previous president's supporters.

Bannon, who was additionally fined $6,500, was permitted by the choose to stay free whereas he fights what his lawyer vowed can be a "bulletproof" enchantment.

The longtime Trump strategist struck a defiant tone upon leaving the federal court docket in Washington -- lashing out at President Joe Biden and the Democratic leaders of the Home of Representatives.

"At the moment was my judgment day by the choose," Bannon informed reporters outdoors. "On November eighth there's going to have judgment on the illegitimate Biden regime," he vowed -- in reference to the upcoming midterm elections.

"And we all know which method that's going," he stated. "The Biden administration ends on the night of the eighth of November."

Requested by reporters on the White Home for a response to the Bannon sentencing, Biden answered dismissively: "I by no means have a response to Steve Bannon."

'Undeniably critical'

The 68-year-old Bannon was greeted on arrival on the courthouse early Friday by protesters yelling "Traitor" Fascist!"

His jail sentence was lower than the six months requested by the Justice Division, however greater than the probation Bannon's attorneys had sought.

Bannon had argued that he declined to seem earlier than the Capitol riot probe panel upon recommendation from his lawyer that doing so would violate Trump's government privilege.

However he additionally stated he felt that the investigation was politically pushed.

Federal Choose Carl Nichols rejected these arguments, saying Trump had by no means asserted government privilege in Bannon's case and that the occasions on the Capitol wanted investigating.

"The occasions of January sixth have been undeniably critical," Nichols stated earlier than saying the sentence. "The January 6 committee thus has each cause to research what occurred that day."

He added that Bannon had did not cooperate with the committee on points not touched by potential claims of government privilege.

Bannon has "not produced a single doc... and has not offered any testimony on any matter," he stated.

'Assaulted the rule of regulation'

Regardless of the jail sentence, Bannon, who at present runs a streaming political commentary web site, might stay out of jail properly into subsequent yr whereas combating his enchantment.

The investigation by a particular Home committee has depicted Bannon as realizing upfront of the plan by hardline Trump supporters to assault the Capitol to stop Biden from being confirmed as the subsequent president.

It additionally confirmed him advocating for Congress to dam Biden -- who defeated Trump within the November 2020 election -- from turning into head of state.

"The rioters who overran the Capitol on January 6 didn't simply assault a constructing -- they assaulted the rule of regulation upon which this nation was constructed and thru which it endures," the Justice Division informed the court docket in its sentencing memo.

"By flouting the Choose Committee's subpoena and its authority, the defendant exacerbated that assault."

Bannon served within the White Home as chief strategist for the primary seven months of Trump's time period, leaving reportedly because of conflicts with different prime staffers.

In 2020, Bannon was charged with wire fraud and cash laundering for taking for private use tens of millions of dollars contributed by donors in direction of the development of a border wall with Mexico.

Whereas others have been discovered responsible within the scheme, Trump issued a blanket pardon for Bannon earlier than leaving workplace in January 2021, resulting in the dismissal of the costs towards him.