The Department of Justice (DOJ) has urged an appeals court to reject an “emergency motion” filed by Steve Bannon, a former adviser to ex-President Donald Trump, as he seeks to postpone an upcoming prison sentence.
In a court filing on Monday, the DOJ argued that Bannon’s emergency motion “seeking release pending the final resolution of his appeal” fails to “show a ‘substantial question likely to result in’ reversal or a new trial, as required for release.”
On June 6, a federal judge ordered Steve Bannon, host of the War Room podcast, to serve a four-month prison sentence after being found in contempt of Congress. Shortly after, Bannon filed an emergency motion requesting that a federal appeals court allow him to remain free while he contests his contempt of Congress conviction and seeks an appeal, according to NBC News.
“Because Bannon cannot justify what would be an extraordinary exception to the general rule of detention following conviction and an unsuccessful appeal, his motion should be denied,” the DOJ wrote in the filing.
Steve Bannon previously served as the executive chairman of Breitbart News before being appointed CEO of the Trump campaign in August 2016. He later joined the Trump administration as a chief strategist but left in August 2017. Bannon then returned to Breitbart News until his departure in early 2018.
In 2022, a jury convicted Steve Bannon, resulting in a four-month prison sentence.
The sentence was put on hold as Bannon pursued an appeal. In May, an appeals court upheld his contempt of Congress conviction for refusing a subpoena from the Democratic-led committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
“Bannon’s release motion should be denied,” the DOJ added in the filing. “Release pending appeal is the exception to the general rule that a defendant ‘shall…be detained’ following a conviction and imposition of a sentence of imprisonment.”
“Bannon cannot reconcile his claim for special treatment with the bedrock principle of equal justice under the law,” the DOJ added.
“Even-handed application of the bail statute requires Bannon’s continued detention,” the DOJ claims.
In a recent interview with conservative commentator and journalist Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon said he does not “fear going to prison” and is prepared to serve time as a “political prisoner.”
Former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro became the first person from the Trump administration to serve a four-month prison sentence after being held in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the Democratic-led January 6 Select Committee. In March, Navarro reported to prison to begin his sentence.
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