Steve Bannon, a close associate of former President Donald Trump, has petitioned the Supreme Court to postpone his prison sentence while he appeals his convictions for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the US Capitol attack.
This urgent request comes after a federal appeals court panel rejected Bannon’s attempt to delay reporting to prison by July 1st to serve his four-month sentence. Addressed to Chief Justice John Roberts, who handles emergency appeals from courts in Washington DC, the application seeks to delay the sentence pending appeal.
The Supreme Court has requested the Justice Department to respond to the request by Wednesday, just before the court's summer recess begins. A similar request from another Trump aide was denied by the court in March after receiving a response.
Bannon was convicted nearly two years ago on two counts of contempt of Congress: one for refusing to testify before the January 6 House committee and the other for withholding documents related to Trump's efforts to challenge his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.
Characterizing the case as politically motivated, Bannon's attorney David Schoen argues that it raises significant constitutional issues that warrant Supreme Court review.
Bannon is required to commence his prison term by July 1st following a ruling by US District Judge Carl Nichols, nominated by Trump, who granted prosecutors' request after the DC Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Bannon's conviction.
Bannon’s defense contends that he was engaged in negotiations with the congressional committee and believed he couldn't testify due to executive privilege invoked by Trump.
In their filing, Bannon’s lawyers assert a “strong public interest” in allowing him to remain free, given his role as a key advisor to Trump's 2024 election campaign. However, prosecutors argue that Bannon’s political role is irrelevant to the case.
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