Steve Bannon, a longtime adviser to former President Donald Trump, was convicted of two counts of contempt of Congress Friday after a swift trial and deliberation by jury members.
After a brief five-day trial that featured only two government witnesses, Bannon was found guilty for refusing to appear for deposition and for refusing to provide documents and materials in accordance with a subpoena by the House special committee on January 6th. The jury deliberated for three hours.
Each count carries a minimum of 30 days confinement in federal prison up to a maximum of one year, with a potential maximum fine of $100,000.
In closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gaston implored jurors to convict Bannon.
“The defendant made a deliberate decision not to comply,” she said. “That, ladies and gentleman, is contempt. We are here because the defendant has contempt for the Congress.”
“He has contempt for our system of government and does not believe he has to abide by the rules. Find him guilty,” concluded Gaston.
Evan Corcoran, defense attorney for Bannon, argued that the Democrat-controlled House special committee on January 6th was targeting his client due to his proximity to Republican former President Donald Trump.
“Why was Steve Bannon singled out?” Corcoran inquired before turning his attention to Kristin Amerling, the House special committee on January 6th’s chief counsel and the government’s star witness against Bannon.
Corcoran argued to the jurors that Amerling’s deep ties to Democratic elected officials, as well as her donation history to Democratic candidates, prejudiced her against Bannon. He also reminded jurors of Amerling’s acknowledgment on the stand that she and prosecutor Gaston had worked together for 15 years in the office of former U.S. Representative Henry Waxman — a California Democrat.
“Why did Ms. Amerling want to make an example of Steve Bannon?” asked Corcoran rhetorically. “It’s an election year.”
Claims of political bias and persecution were dismissed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Vaughn.
In response to Corcoran’s framing of Amerling’s motivations, she asked, “Why are we talking about politics? What is political about an attack on the seat of our government?”
Outside the courthouse, Bannon and his legal team spoke with the press.
“This is round one. You will see this case reversed on appeal,” said David Schoen, one of Bannon’s attorneys.
Bannon himself added, “We may have lost the battle here today; we’re not going to lose this war.”
Bannon also expressed gratitude for the jury for their service and remarked that his one disappointment with the trial was that the “gutless members of that show trial committee, the J-6 committee, didn’t have the guts to come down here and testify.”
Sentencing for Bannon is set for October 21.