A federal grand jury has indicted former Trump political advisor Steve Bannon on two counts of criminal contempt of Congress for intentionally defying a subpoena related to the attack on the U.S. Capitol last year.

Bannon offered no defense in the case, which included testimony from only two government witnesses, including the deputy chair of the task force on the House Select Committee investigating the events of January 6, 2021.

The Justice Department told the jury that the case was in black and white, simply the words of Bannon's subpoena last fall.

"The defendant preferred loyalty to Donald Trump over respect for the law," Assistant US Attorney Molly Gaston said in closing arguments.

Prosecutors said Bannon aired his challenge on the social networking site Gettr, telling lawmakers he would "not comply" on October 8, 2021, after the commission's deadline expired.

Eminent government witness Kristen Amerling of the Jan. 6 panel told the jury that the panel wanted to learn more about Bannon's communications with former President Trump, his presence with others at the Willard Hotel in early 2021, and his statement in the Warroom podcast. . This "hell will break out" the day before the siege of the Capitol.

Bannon's lawyers say he missed appointments due to alleged political bias

The White House's chief strategist once became a force in Republican politics, thanks to his stardom in the right-wing media and his connection to Trump.

Bannon did not submit papers to the Democratic-led committee and did not appear last year, saying he was not allowed to appear because Trump asserted executive privilege.

U.S. District Court Judge Carl Nichols disputed the grant's request, and Trump's attorney suggested that it would not cover Bannon's explicit refusal to cooperate with the House Select Committee.

Defense attorney Evan Corcoran said Bannon mistook the dates on the subpoenas, which he called "placeholders." Corcoran also alleged that a government witness donated an order to Democratic political candidates and was in the same book club as Attorney General Gaston.

"The problem with bias is that sometimes people just ignore it," Corcoran told jurors.

Prosecutors said the attempts to bring politics into the case were a smokescreen to confuse the jury.

“The only person defending this case in politics is the defendant and he is doing it to distract and confuse you,” Gaston said. "Don't let him go."

Bannon attempted to adjourn the case, making a nearly last-minute offer on the eve of the trial to testify before Congress at a public hearing. Prosecutors said the Justice Department described the offer as a ploy "not a good stunt" because it did not respond to the commission's request for documents.

Prosecutors quietly left the courtroom without comment after the verdict was pronounced. In a written statement, United States Attorney Matthew Graves said: "Mr. Bannon has been asked to appear before the House Select Committee to testify and produce documents. His refusal to do so was premeditated, and now the jury has decided that you must pay." Invoices ".

Outside the building, Bannon thanked the judge and jury for their service but criticized members of the House Select Committee for conducting what he called a "show trial." Bannon also pledged to appeal, saying the legal dispute was not over yet.

His attorney, David Schoen, noted that Judge Nichols disagreed with case law that overturned some of Bannon's defenses in the trial, but said the appeals court could reconsider the case when the deal is closed. Schoen said it would be a "bulletproof call" and there were an "astounding" number of calls.

Criminal contempt trials are rare, and so is a witness's decision to reject congressional demands outright. Bannon faces prison terms and fines when he is sentenced on October 21.

One of Trump's top advisers, Peter Navarro, will go on trial in November for contempt. Navarro pleaded his innocence.