The U.S. Supreme Court issued an order Monday that paves the way for the Justice Department to drop its criminal case against Steve Bannon, a former key adviser to President Donald Trump. The justices vacated a lower court’s decision that had previously upheld Bannon's 2022 conviction for defying a congressional subpoena.
Bannon, 72, was convicted on two counts of contempt of Congress after refusing to provide documents or testimony to the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Following his conviction, Bannon served a four-month sentence at a federal facility in Danbury, Connecticut, after the Supreme Court denied his request to remain free during his appeal in June 2024.
In recent filings, the Justice Department urged the high court to dismiss the case, stating that the move is "in the interests of justice." The department had already filed a motion to dismiss the indictment at the trial court level.
A legal reversal
The Supreme Court’s brief, unsigned order returned the case to the lower court for further action, specifically to address the government's pending motion to dismiss. The Justice Department declined to offer further comment on the decision Monday.
During his original trial, prosecutors argued that Bannon had attempted to "thumb his nose at Congress." Prosecutor J.P. Cooney told the court at the time, "Bannon is not above the law, and that's what makes this case important."
Bannon, who served as a chief strategist in the White House during Trump's first term, consistently maintained that the investigation into the Capitol riot was politically motivated. He characterized himself as a political prisoner throughout his legal proceedings.
Upon his release from prison last year—just one week before Trump’s 2024 election victory—Bannon told reporters he felt "empowered" by his time in custody. He immediately resumed hosting his "War Room" podcast, continuing his role as a prominent voice in right-wing populist circles.
