Bannon rages against Biden as he gets four-month jail term

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As our live coverage draws to a close, it's worth considering the turbulent story of Steve Bannon's career in Washington.

The 68-year-old rose to prominence during Donald Trump’s successful 2016 presidential campaign, and shortly after became his chief strategist. At this time, he was considered by many as the second most powerful man in the Trump administration.

But since leaving his role in the White House in 2017, he has been marred by legal troubles.

Here’s a deeper look at Bannon’s sharp rise and fall.

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Steve Bannon's sentencing marks the first real fruits of the January 6 committee's work.

He's also the most high profile of Donald Trump's key lieutenants to get a jail term in connection with the riots, albeit indirectly through his failure to co-operate.

But while there's been plenty of prime time theatre, questions have persisted over what impact the committee's investigations will really have.

Now the Department of Justice has shown it is prepared to follow through - that is something that will not go unnoticed by others who have slow-walked their co-operation with the inquiry.

Outside the court, Bannon said voters would pass their judgement on 8 November at the midterm elections.

And while they may not have his case uppermost in their minds, the elections will mark a key moment for the investigation - since a Republican victory in the House would spell the end of any further inquiries.

News of Steve Bannon's sentencing has triggered some strong reactions from those in former President Donald Trump's orbit.

Steve Cortes, an adviser who served as the Latino face of the Trump campaign, echoed several others in standing with the defendant.

Bernie Kerik, the former New York City police commissioner and Trump adviser, accused the Department of Justice of abusing its power.

Kerik was previously pardoned by Trump on eight felony convictions, including tax fraud and lying to White House officials.

Trump-endorsed congressional candidate Joe Kent, from Washington, said the verdict was about "weaponising the national security state".

Kent backs Trump's false claims of a stolen election in 2020 and, earlier this year, he beat one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump. He is currently leading in polls for Washington's third congressional district.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Steve Bannon waded through a dense and unruly crowd as he left his sentencing.

Standing outside the Washington DC courtroom, Bannon addressed his sentence briefly before railing against President Joe Biden and saying the American people would have their own "justice" during next month's midterm elections.

Bannon's short remarks were interrupted by shouts from the crowd - "Bannon is a traitor" and "lock him up".

Bannon appeared slightly irritated, and asked the crowd to be quiet and let him finish before making his way to his car.

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Bannon’s legal troubles do not end with this case.

In August 2020, he was charged with wire fraud and money laundering over his involvement in fundraising efforts for Donald Trump's US-Mexico border wall. But Trump pardoned him for the alleged crimes in one of his final actions as president.

He is, however, facing separate charges in New York of defrauding people who sought to fundraise for the US-Mexico border wall - one of Trump’s signature policy promises.

According to prosecutors, Bannon funnelled more than $100,000 (£89,000) in donations to the president of the organisation, Brian Kolfage, who had promised not to take a salary.

Bannon, who has called the charges “nonsense”, has pleaded not guilty.

Longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon has just received a four-month prison sentence. Here's a quick recap:

• Last year, a committee in Congress that's investigating the US Capitol riot issued a legal summons to compel Bannon to provide documents and testimony relevant to their inquiry
• But Bannon, who was Trump's chief strategist in the early days of his presidency, refused for months to testify or provide any documents
• The US House of Representatives then voted in favour of holding Bannon in contempt of Congress
• Earlier this year, a jury found him guilty on two counts - one for not providing documents and another for failing to testify
• Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, has just sentenced him to four months in prison plus handed him a $6,500 (£5,834) fine
• Bannon plans to file an appeal in the case, and Judge Nichols has released him until that appeals process is complete

Just minutes after being sentenced, Steve Bannon spoke outside the Washington DC courtroom.

"Today was my judgement day by the judge," he said, adding: "We will have a vigorous appeal."

Bannon then turns his focus to the midterm elections.

"On 8 November we are going to have judgement on the illegitimate Biden regime," he says.

Judge Carl Nichols says that while Bannon may be unlikely to defy a congressional subpoena again, a punishment was needed to remind the public that they must co-operate with Congress.

"Others must be deterred from committing similar crimes," the Trump-appointee says. “Flaunting Congressional subpoenas betrays a lack of respect for the legislative branch, which exercises the will of the people of the United States."

Bannon is the first person to be sentenced in relation to the House inquiry into 6 January.

Another Trump adviser, Peter Navarro, is facing similar charges after refusing to co-operate with the panel. His trial is scheduled for next month.

Judge Nichols says he will release Steve Bannon for now.

Bannon's defence lawyers earlier asked that the court delay any prison term until the appeals process is complete.

But he notes the appeal, which has not yet been filed, must be made in a "timely" manner.

If he does not appeal, Bannon will have to report to prison by 15 November.

After announcing Steve Bannon's sentence, Judge Carl Nichols tells the court once again that he does not believe Bannon has accepted responsibility for his actions.

"Respect for our Congress is of course an important piece of our constitutional system," he says, adding that the sentence is meant to send a message to the wider public.

Judge Carl Nichols has just returned from recess.

That means a sentence is imminent - but he must go through the lengthy sentencing guidelines first.

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As the court begins a short recess, it's worth considering how Bannon rose to prominence.

His most influential days came while he was at the helm of Breitbart News, a crusading, chaotic outlet that blasts away from the fringes of America’s right wing.

Propelled by its support for Donald Trump, Breitbart rose in influence throughout the 2016 election campaign.

It’s easy to see the resemblance between the news site and the former president. Both became known for blistering opinions, conspiracy theories and taking sheer delight in playing to the anti-woke crowd.

Breitbart wears its political slant heavily – it does not pretend to be fair or balanced. One former reporter once told me: "The ethic of objectivity as it's traditionally formulated is not practised there… I never made any pretence about the fact that I did not want Hillary Clinton to be president."

Bannon himself once said that his news site had become “the platform for the alt-right”.

But although it’s still an established news source for hardcore conservatives, Breitbart News never really regained the influence it had back in 2016.

We've just learned that Steve Bannon will not speak at the sentencing hearing after all, despite being given the opportunity.

“My lawyers have spoken for me your honour,” he says.

He is, however, expected to speak to the media gathered outside the courtroom.

Judge Carl Nichols has just called a recess, after which we're set to learn Bannon's sentence.

Bannon's lawyer David Schoen is pushing back on the Department of Justice's assertion that there is "no greater contempt" than Bannon's.

It could have been worse, Schoen argues.

"A more egregious contempt of Congress would have been: 'Screw you, Congress! Take your subpoena, and shove it!'" he says.

CBS News' Scott MacFarlane, reporting from the courtroom, says Steve Bannon has sat expressionless, rocking back and forth, as his lawyers speak.

Bannon was earlier seen entering the courtroom with a Financial Times newspaper - headlined on the resignation of British Prime Minister Liz Truss - under his arm.

As we've been reporting, Steve Bannon is set to be sentenced for failing to comply with the congressional committee investigating last year's Capitol riot.

Supporters of Donald Trump stormed Congress on 6 January 2021 as it was meeting for a special joint session, where lawmakers come together to formally certify the winner of the presidential election.

Incumbent Vice-President Mike Pence was overseeing the proceeding to anoint President Joe Biden as the winner.

But hundreds of people stormed the Capitol complex while the session was taking place in a bid to thwart the certification process.

More than 900 participants have been charged in the months since the attack, with charges ranging from assault to obstruction of an official proceeding.

Dozens of rioters are still awaiting sentencing.

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Lawyers on both sides are making their final pitches to Judge Carl Nichols before he rules on Steve Bannon's sentence.

Bannon's lawyer David Schoen says the government has applied the "Bannon rule" to the case, meaning that the long-time Trump ally has been treated differently than other defendants.

A lawyer for the Department of Justice speaks next, saying Bannon hid behind a "fabricated claim of executive privilege... to thumb his nose at Congress".

Bannon has argued that executive privilege - a legal principle which allows some communications between presidents and their advisers to be kept private - prevented him from testifying before the House committee.

This argument has already been rejected by the judge.

"Your Honour, the defendant is not above the law," the prosecutor says.

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As the sentencing hearing continues, a reminder of what Steve Bannon was found guilty of earlier this year.

Contempt of Congress is a federal misdemeanor charge that can be used when a person refuses to comply - for example by withholding testimony or documents.

The US Congress has the power to demand testimony and documents from almost anyone it wants to hear from.

According to the Congressional Research Service, part of the purpose of this charge is to deter people from rebuffing lawmakers in the way Bannon did.