Steve Bannon’s latest appeal to delay July 1 prison deadline is rejected as he attempts to overturn contempt of Congress conviction

A last-minute appeal by Steve Bannon to delay his prison sentence has been rejected by a federal court panel as he fights his conviction for criminal contempt of Congress.

Donald Trump’s former adviser must now report to prison before July 1 to begin serving his four-month sentence.

Bannon’s lawyers have asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to release him while he continues to overturn the conviction, if necessary, all the way to the Supreme Court.

But in a 2-1 vote, the panel ruled that Bannon’s case “does not warrant a departure from the general rule” that defendants begin serving their sentences upon conviction.

Following this rejection, Bannon is expected to ask the Supreme Court to commute his four-month prison sentence.

Bannon spoke with Trump at least twice on January 5, attending a planning meeting at the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC and saying on his podcast: “Tomorrow all hell will break loose,” according to the J6 committee.

The longtime ally was sentenced to prison after a jury found him guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress in 2022 for refusing to appear before the House investigation into the Jan. 6 attack and because he refused to hand over documents.

However, Judge Carl Nichols allowed him to remain free while he appealed the conviction.

That changed two weeks ago after a higher court rejected Bannon’s appeal. Nichols said he did not believe the “original basis” for his deferred sentence still existed.

Bannon’s attorney at trial argued that the former Trump adviser did not ignore the subpoena but was still in good faith negotiations with the congressional committee when he was charged.

Bannon was convicted of failing to comply with a Jan. 6 subpoena from the House of Representatives committee

The defense said he relied on the advice of his attorney, who believed Bannon could not testify or produce documents because Trump had invoked executive privilege.

Lawyers for Bannon previously said the case raises serious legal questions that will likely have to be resolved by the Supreme Court, but that he would have already served his prison sentence by the time the case comes up.

In court filings, Bannon’s lawyers further said there is a “strong public interest” in freeing him ahead of the 2024 election because of Bannon’s role as a top adviser to Trump’s campaign.

His lawyers have also argued that the Justice Department is “creating the appearance that the government is trying to prevent Bannon from fully cooperating with the campaign and speaking out on important issues, as well as ensuring that the government demands its pound of flesh before the possible end of the campaign. the Biden administration” by trying to jail him now.

But prosecutors disagree, saying in court filings that Bannon’s “role in political discourse” is irrelevant.

Tear gas is unleashed into a crowd of protesters, one of whom carries a Confederate battle flag reading “Come and Take It,” during clashes with Capitol Police during a rally to oppose the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election by the U.S. Congress dispute. at the US Capitol Building in Washington, USA, January 6, 2021

Bannon also cannot reconcile his claim for special treatment with the fundamental principle of equal justice under the law. “Balanced application of the bail law requires Bannon’s continued detention,” prosecutors wrote.

Another former Trump aide, economic adviser Peter Navarro, is currently serving a four-month sentence in a Florida prison after being convicted of similar charges. Navarro helped promote a plan he called the “Green Bay Sweep” that became part of Trump’s election efforts.

Bannon has filed a defense of counsel, saying he relied on an attorney’s advice when he failed to comply with a congressional subpoena. Trump also tried to make such an argument, citing Michael Cohen’s advice in the Stormy Daniels payout.

Bannon helped lead meetings in a strategic “war room” at Washington’s Willard Hotel, where key campaign figures gathered.

“I have great lawyers, and if we have to, we’ll go all the way to the Supreme Court,” Bannon said outside court last week after being sentenced to prison.

“There’s nothing that can shut me up and nothing that can shut me up. There is no prison built or constructed that will ever silence me,” he said as a protester held up a “Lock Them Up” sign.

“They’re not going to silence Trump. They’re not going to silence Navarro. They’re not going to silence Bannon, and they’re certainly not going to silence MAGA,” he said.