The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced that Stephen K. Bannon, former chief strategist and counselor to former President Donald Trump, was found guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress.
According to a department press release, Bannon refused to comply with a subpoena issued by the House Select Committee to appear for a deposition on Oct. 14, 2021, and also refused to comply with a subpoena to produce documents on Oct. 7, 2021. These subpoenas were issued in connection with the investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. For his actions, a jury found Bannon guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress.
“The subpoena to Stephen Bannon was not an invitation that could be rejected or ignored,” U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew M. Graves said in the press release. “Mr. Bannon had an obligation to appear before the House Select Committee to give testimony and provide documents. His refusal to do so was deliberate, and now a jury has found that he must pay the consequences.”
Bannon faces a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of one year in jail, as well as a fine of $100 to $100,000 for each count.
“The tenets of our government rely upon citizens adhering to the established rules of law. Lawful tools, such as subpoenas and other legal orders, are critical in our system of government,” FBI Washington Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono said. “Mr. Bannon was found guilty of contempt by a jury of his peers for his choice to ignore a lawful subpoena."
Bannon is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 21.
