Steve Bannon, the chief strategist for former US President Donald Trump, has been sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of Congress. A federal judge in the capital Washington also fined the well-known right-wing populist on Friday of $6,500. Last year, the 68-year-old refused to heed a call from the parliamentary subcommittee on the January 6, 2021 storming of the Capitol.
Moreover, he did not want to hand over the requested documents. The public prosecutor had therefore demanded six months in prison and a fine of 200,000 dollars (about 203,000 euros). Bannon’s defense, on the other hand, insisted that only a suspended sentence be imposed. Bannon won’t go to jail immediately, despite serving a four-month prison sentence: Federal Judge Carl Nichols has granted a request from Bannon’s lawyers to await the outcome of an appeal.
Bannon key witness in Capitol storm
The former head of the far-right Breitbart website was found guilty by a jury last July on two charges of contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with the Commission of Inquiry. The panel believes Bannon is a key witness in the investigation into the storming of the Capitol. According to the panel, the right-wing populist spoke with Trump the day before the storm. In his then-own podcast, Bannon also predicted that “hell will break out” the next day.
Radical Trump supporters stormed Congress in January 2021 when Trump challenger Joe Biden’s election victory in the November 2020 presidential election had to be officially confirmed. The storming of the Capitol, which killed five and injured about 140 police officers, caused horror worldwide and is considered a black day in the history of American democracy.
Trump should be sued
A parliamentary committee of inquiry has been working on the events since last year. Most recently, last week the panel decided in a spectacular move to summon Trump himself. The ex-president has not yet said whether he is willing to testify.
Bannon was a central figure in Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. After Trump’s election victory – in which he is given a major role – he went on to become chief strategist in the White House. Trump fired him in August 2017. The two right-wing populists then came closer together. Steve Bannon is still one of the most influential voices in the ultra-conservative camp of American politics.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
