DANBURY, Conn. (AP) — Longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon was taken into custody Monday after he reported to federal prison to begin a four-month contempt of court sentence for defying a subpoena as part of the congressional investigation into Trump’s affair. Attack on the United States Capitol.
Bannon arrived at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, around noon and was officially taken into federal custody, the Bureau of Prisons said.
Speaking to reporters, Bannon called himself a “political prisoner,” said former President Donald Trump was “very supportive” of him and criticized Democrats, including Attorney General Merrick Garland.
“I’m proud to go to prison,” Bannon said, adding that he was “standing up to the corrupt Garland Justice Department.”
Shortly before he arrived to surrender, a small group of supporters, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, gathered on the side of the road outside the prison. They applauded Greene and Bannon at a news conference, waving flags and signs supporting Bannon while a small group of protesters shouted “Lock him up!” » and “traitor!” »
The crowd was loud, often chanting “USA!” A Biden supporter taunted Bannon by shouting “traitor” as Trump supporters tried to shout her down. Police had to stop traffic to allow the black SUV Bannon was riding in to pull out of the parking lot of a church where Bannon’s supporters had gathered.
A judge allowed Bannon to remain free for nearly two years while he appeals, but ordered him to report to prison Monday after an appeals court panel. upheld his contempt of Congress convictions. THE The Supreme Court on Friday rejected his last-minute appeal to avoid conviction.
A jury found Bannon guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress: one for refusing to sit during a Jan. 6 House committee deposition and the second for refusing to provide documents related to his involvement in the Republican former president’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.
Defense attorneys argued the case raised questions that should be considered by the Supreme Court, including Bannon’s former lawyer’s belief that the subpoena was invalid because Trump asserted privilege executive. Prosecutors say, however, that Bannon had left the White House years before and that Trump never invoked executive privilege before the committee.
Bannon’s call will continue to play out, and House Republican leaders have thrown their support behind the intervention to argue that the Jan. 6 commission was improperly created, effectively trying to consider the subpoena subpoena received by Bannon as illegitimate.
Another Trump trade adviser Peter Navarrowas also found guilty of contempt of Congress. He reported to prison in March to serve his four-month sentence after the Supreme Court denied his request to delay the sentence.
Bannon also faces criminal charges in New York state court, alleging he deceived donors who gave money to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Bannon has pleaded not guilty to money laundering, conspiracy, fraud and other charges, and that trial has been postponed until at least the end of September.
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Whitehurst reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter John Minchillo contributed to this report.
