The Department of Justice has requested a federal judge to initiate the commencement of Steve Bannon's prison sentence following an appeals court's affirmation of his conviction.
Prosecutors submitted a filing to District of Columbia Circuit Judge Carl Nichols, contending that "there is no longer a 'substantial question of law that is likely to result in a reversal or an order for a new trial,'" after a three-judge panel rejected Bannon's attempt to overturn his conviction. Bannon was found guilty in 2022 on two counts of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena and withholding documents from the House Jan. 6 select committee.
In October, he was sentenced to four months in prison and a fine of $6,500. Bannon had been able to avoid imprisonment while appealing the conviction, but with Friday's decision, federal prosecutors argue that there is "no longer any legal basis" for him to remain free.
If Judge Nichols concurs with the Justice Department, Bannon would become the second adviser of former President Trump to face incarceration for contempt of Congress charges. Former Trump adviser Peter Navarro is currently serving a four-month prison sentence in Miami for refusing to appear before the Jan. 6 committee, after a judge ordered him to report to prison in March when his appeal was rejected.
Despite Bannon's statements expressing willingness to go to prison for defying the Jan. 6 committee and his repeated threats of "retribution" against the committee, he still retains the option to request review of the case by the full appeals court or the U.S. Supreme Court in order to delay his prison term.