Caitlin Sinclair – NY Political Correspondent
UPDATED 9:05 AM PT – Friday, October 21, 2022
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon was sentenced to 4 months in prison and a $6,500 fine in D.C. federal court Friday. The judge will allow Bannon to appeal before serving that sentence.
Bannon was convicted in July on two contempt of Congress charges for ignoring subpoenas from the House committee investigating January 6th.
Prior to sentencing, a stoic and steadfast Bannon made a comment to reporters as supporters surrounded the courthouse.
“Remember, this illegitimate regime, their judgment day is on 8 November, when the Biden administration ends … By the way, and remember: Take down the CCP.”
The House panel had sought Bannon’s testimony over his involvement in Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Bannon has yet to testify or provide any documents to the committee, prosecutors wrote.
The defense, meanwhile, said he wasn’t acting in bad faith, but trying to avoid running afoul of executive privilege objections Trump had raised when Bannon was first served with a committee subpoena last year. The former presidential adviser said he wanted a Trump lawyer in the room, but the committee wouldn’t allow it.
Banon spoke outside the courtroom after the hearing saying:
“I respect the judge. The sentence he came down with today is his decision. … I’ve been totally respectful of this entire process on the legal side,”
Friday’s sentencing took place one year to the day after the House voted to hold Bannon in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with the subpoena.