In a recent development, a federal appeals court has rejected Steve Bannon’s request to delay the start of his criminal contempt-of-Congress prison sentence set for July 1.
After the ruling from the US DC Circuit Court of Appeals, it is expected that the former advisor to ex-President Donald Trump will turn to the Supreme Court for intervention.
The panel’s decision was split 2-1, with Judge Cornelia Pillard, appointed by Barack Obama, and Judge Bradley Garcia, appointed by Joe Biden, in the majority. However, the majority opinion was not signed.
On the other hand, Judge Justin Walker, a Trump appointee, dissented from the panel’s decision, arguing that Bannon should be allowed to remain out of prison while he appeals to the Supreme Court.
Bannon, found guilty of contempt nearly two years ago for defying a House January 6 Committee subpoena, faces the prospect of serving his sentence in a low-security prison camp in Danbury, Connecticut, due to pending New York state criminal charges related to the “Build the Wall” fundraising scheme.
During a recent conservative gathering in Detroit, Bannon escalated his criticisms against the Justice Department, hinting at plans to “purge” the department and “take apart” the FBI if Trump were to win the election.
Bannon’s legal team had pushed for him to remain out of prison to continue his appeal, citing the opportunity for a full review by the DC Circuit and a potential Supreme Court appeal.
If Bannon does not receive Supreme Court intervention, he is scheduled to serve his sentence in Danbury, Connecticut, instead of the minimal-security prison camps known as “Club Fed.”
In response to the court’s decision, Bannon accused the Biden administration of attempting to silence his criticisms ahead of the election, claiming that millions of Americans rely on him for information on key campaign issues.
Prosecutors, however, argued that Bannon’s role in political discourse should not impact the enforcement of his sentence, emphasizing the principle of equal justice under the law.
This article will be updated with further details as they become available. CNN reporters Sara Murray and Dan Berman contributed to this report.
