A federal judge ordered former Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon to report to prison on July 1 to begin serving a four-month sentence as he appeals a conviction for contempt of Congress.
Judge Carl Nichols said Thursday that Bannon must self-surrender just days before the Republican National Convention gets underway in Milwaukee on July 15. The ruling comes after a Washington, D.C. court of appeals last month rejected his bid to overturn his conviction, the Hill reported.
"The government's motion is granted," said Nichols, who was appointed to the bench by then-President Donald Trump.
Bannon was found guilty of contempt of Congress in 2022 for failing to testify and provide documents to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6. 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
The Justice Department, after the appeals court ruling, moved to have Bannon immediately jailed, saying there was no longer a "substantial question of law that is likely to result in a reversal or an order for a new trial."
In court filings, Bannon's lawyers claimed Nichols didn't have the authority to imprison him before the full appeals process played out, including if the case was taken up by the Supreme Court.
"There is no basis for considering the removal of the stay of the sentence pending appeal until the appeals process has fully run its course," Bannon's lawyers said, CNN reported.
Outside of court, Bannon lashed out at the Justice Department.
"They're not going to shut up Trump. They're not going to shut up (Peter) Navarro. They're not going to shut up Bannon. And they're certainly not going to shut up MAGA."
