Donald Trump’s former adviser, Steve Bannon, has been sentenced to four months in prison after being convicted of contempt of Congress.
Bannon was found guilty by a jury for failing to comply with a House of Representatives subpoena issued by the January 6 committee.
The prosecution was seeking a six-month sentence as well as a $200,000 dollar fine. Bannon was only forced to pay $6,500.
Bannon is expected to appeal the ruling shortly and ask for the sentencing to be postponed until his challenge is filed. Bannon had insisted in July that if the Republicans regained control of Congress that he would launch a “real January 6 committee” into the Democrats alleged manipulation of the investigation for partisan gain.
“Republicans have been controlled opposition. That’s what has to change. This November, we have to deliver a crushing blow to this Democratic Party apparatus. But then, we have to really govern, and I mean govern on offense,” Bannon said during an appearance on Tucker Carlson Tonight.
If Bannon fails to challenge the ruling within two weeks, he will have to voluntarily surrender to serve his sentence. Bannon is the first individual in more than 50 years to be imprisoned for defying a congressional subpoena.
Bannon “expressed no remorse,” the Washington Post reports and further declined to speak at the sentencing hearing this Friday informing the judge: “My lawyers have spoken for me, your honor.”
One damning audioclip released during the trial has Bannon saying telling some Chinese associates of his that Trump was set to declare victory in the 2020 presidential elections regardless of the actual results.
“That doesn’t mean he’s the winner. He’s just going to say he’s the winner. He’s going to sit right there and say they stole it… That’s our strategy,” Bannon maintained.