by Sarah N. Lynch
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Steve Bannon, a former adviser to Donald Trump convicted in July of contempt of Congress and obstructing the parliamentary inquiry into the January 6 Capitol assault, will be set on his fate this Friday in federal court from Washington.
This figure of the American extreme right was found guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress, one for having refused to testify, the other for having refused to transmit documents.
Prosecutors have requested six months of detention. His lawyers have pleaded for parole or house arrest and have already mentioned an appeal.
Each of the two counts is punishable by 30 days to one year in prison and a fine ranging from 100 to 100,000 dollars.
Steve Bannon, 68, promoter of “America First” and champion of a fiercely anti-immigration far-right, helped Donald Trump win the 2016 election and was a top adviser to the White House.
Several thousand supporters of former President Donald Trump had led an assault on the Capitol in January 2021.
Steve Bannon spoke with Donald Trump at least twice the day before the attack, attended a planning meeting at a Washington hotel, and said on his right-wing podcast that “all the hell going to be unleashed tomorrow.”
Friday’s decision does not put an end to Steve Bannon’s legal troubles.
He was indicted in September on counts of money laundering, conspiracy and embezzlement in connection with the private campaign dubbed “We Build The Wall”, which raised $25 million ($25.13 million). euros) in the name of this project dear to the former Republican president.
(Report Sarah N. Lynch; French version Federica Mileo, edited by Sophie Louet)
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