Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces
Hamas: A delegation from the Hamas leadership, led by the head of the leadership council, Mohammad Darwish, met with an Islamic Jihad delegation, headed by its Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah

Steve Bannon guilty of 2 accounts of contempt of Congress

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Jul 2022 23:11
4 Min Read

Former top Trump adviser Steve Bannon was convicted of two counts of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the Jan. 6 panel.

  • x
  • Steve Bannon guilty of contempt for defying Jan. 6 committee subpoena.
    Steve Bannon is guilty of contempt for defying Jan. 6 committee subpoena.

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon was found guilty of contempt of Congress on Friday after a brief trial that featured only two government witnesses who detailed the longtime Donald Trump aide's defiance of a House committee's demand for records and testimony in its investigation of the Capitol attack.

The federal court jury deliberated for less than three hours before reaching its decision, handing victories to the special House committee that initiated the contempt proceedings as well as the Justice Department's prosecution. Sentencing is set for October 21. 

Prosecutors urged conviction in closing arguments, claiming that Bannon "chose allegiance to Donald Trump" over an obligation to comply with Congress.

Read next: House January 6 panel subpoenas Secret Service for deleted texts

"The defendant made a deliberate decision not to comply," Assistant US Attorney Molly Gaston told jurors. "That, ladies and gentleman, is contempt. We are here because the defendant has contempt for Congress.

"He has contempt for our system of government and does not believe he has to abide by the rules. Find him guilty."

Bannon's attorney's arguments 

Meanwhile, Bannon's attorney, Evan Corcoran, maintained that the House committee had targeted his client because of Bannon's long relationship with the Republican former president. He also suggested that the prosecution's main witness was biased against Bannon.

Related News

US Congress certifies Trump, Vance win, sparing new Capitol riot

Trump to potentially face indictment on Jan. 6 Capitol riots today

"Why was Steve Bannon singled out?" Corcoran told the jury, turning his focus on Kristin Amerling, the House committee's chief counsel and the government's main witness.

Amerling's work for Democratic lawmakers and her acknowledged contributions to Democratic political candidates were mentioned by Corcoran. The witness had previously testified that she had known one of the prosecutors, Gaston, for about 15 years when they both worked for former Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif. They were also members of the same book club.

Read next: Jan. 6 panel makes contempt case against former Trump aides

"Why did Ms. Amerling want to make an example of Steve Bannon? It’s an election year," the attorney said.

Final arguments followed Bannon's lawyers' decision not to call any witnesses in the case. Bannon's lawyer, David Schoen, told US District Judge Carl Nichols on Thursday that his client had decided not to testify because the court had barred the legal team from raising a number of defenses, including that Bannon was exempt from complying with the subpoena because he believed Trump had invoked executive privilege.

Bannon charged with 2 counts of contempt

Bannon is charged with two counts of contempt, one for failing to appear for the deposition and another for failing to produce documents.

Each count carries a minimum of 30 days in jail and a maximum of one year in prison, as well as a $100,000 fine.

Federal prosecutors rested their case against Bannon on Wednesday after only two witnesses testified, including Amerling, who told the jury that the former Trump aide defied the panel's demand for documents and testimony despite the threat of criminal prosecution.

Amerling, the committee's deputy staff director, said Bannon was repeatedly warned that if he did not produce the required information and appear for a deposition, he would face contempt charges, but he failed to meet every deadline outlined in the Sept. 23, 2021 subpoena.

Amerling stated that in correspondence with Bannon attorney Robert Costello, the lawyer never requested an extension of the deadlines or suggested that his client lacked information relevant to the committee's investigation. Rather, Costello contended that Bannon was protected by executive privilege.

"The select committee's position was this was not a valid rationale for refusing to comply," Amerling said, adding that the committee never received a notice – "formal or informal" – that Trump invoked executive privilege related to Bannon.

  • US Congress
  • Steve Bannon
  • Donald Trump
  • January 6

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS