Steve Bannon sentenced for refusing to testify over Capitol siege and Donald Trump bid to overturn election
Steve Bannon, the former White House adviser to Donald Trump, has been sentenced to four months in prison.
He had been convicted of defying a subpoena to appear before a congressional committee investigating the 6 January 2021 assault on the US Capitol.
Bannon has also been handed a $6,500 fine.
His prison sentence has been delayed pending an appeal – meaning he won’t walk into jail straight away.
The committee had sought testimony from Bannon, believing that he was aware of Donald Trump’s intention to falsely declare victory on election night in 2020, and that he had advance knowledge of the plans for the insurrection.
In its last public hearing, the committee played video of Bannon on his livestreamed show from the day before 6 January, stating: “All hell is going to break loose tomorrow.”
In a separate recording, he was heard telling associates from China, three days before the 2020 election: “What Trump’s gonna do is just declare victory. Right? He’s gonna declare victory. But that doesn’t mean he’s a winner… he’s just gonna say he’s a winner.”
On his way into court, the right-wing former Trump strategist was heckled by a waiting crowd, who shouted “fascist” and “traitor”.
Mr Bannon told waiting reporters: “Remember this illegitimate regime. Their judgement day is on 8 November (US midterm elections) when the Biden administration ends.”
Prosecutors had called for a jail sentence of six months and a maximum $200,000 (£178,000) fine for refusing to provide either testimony or documents to the congressional committee.
Bannon’s defence team had argued that he be given probation and that any sentence be suspended pending an appeal.
They had argued that, in pursuing his co-operation, their actions were illegitimate and politically motivated.
The January 6th committee has also announced it will subpoena Donald Trump himself.
Trump supporters broke into the US Capitol in January 2020. Pic: AP
It has described the former president as being central to the Capitol insurrection, and believes that evidence and documents from Trump himself would reinforce a link.
Trump hasn’t said whether he will comply with the subpoena but has dismissed the committee as a “witch hunt of the highest level”.
Should he resist the subpoena, it’s doubtful that he would face the same fate as Bannon.
There is no Supreme Court precedent giving Congress powers to force a former president to give evidence about his time in office.
There is also an issue around timing. The US midterm elections take place on 8 November. If the Republicans win control of the House of Representatives, they have said they will wind up the House January 6th committee.
In these circumstances, the subpoena would lapse.
Police in Tennessee have discovered 14 improvised explosive devices in a man’s home as they were arresting him, the local sheriff’s office said.
Officers were executing a warrant in the home of Kevin Wade O’Neal in Old Fort, about 45 miles (70km) east of Chattanooga, after he had threatened to kill public officials and law enforcement personnel in Polk County.
After arresting the 54-year-old, officers noticed “something smouldering” in the bedroom where he was found.
Kevin Wade O’Neal. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
On closer inspection, they discovered an improvised explosive device and evacuated the house until bomb squad officers arrived at the scene.
Fourteen devices were found inside the property – none of which detonated.
Improvised explosive devices were found in Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home in Old Fort, Tennessee. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
O’Neal was charged with 11 counts of attempted first-degree murder, corresponding to nine officers and two other people inside the property when the suspect tried to detonate the devices.
He also faces 14 counts of prohibited weapons and one count of possession of explosive components.
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O’Neal is being held at the Polk County jail and his bond is yet to be determined.
Donald Trump says he has ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in the “appropriate regions” in a row with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.
It comes after Mr Medvedev, who is now deputy chair of Russia‘s Security Council, told the US president on Thursday to remember Moscow had Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities of last resort.
On Friday, Mr Trump wrote on social media: “Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that.
“Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
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Trump: ‘We’re going to protect our people’
Speaking outside the White House later in the day, Mr Trump was asked about why he had moved the submarines and replied: “We had to do that. We just have to be careful.
“A threat was made and we didn’t think it was appropriate, so I have to be very careful. So I do that on the basis of safety for our people. A threat was made by a former president of Russia and we’re going to protect our people.”
The spat between Mr Trump and Mr Medvedev came after the US president warned Russia on Tuesday it had “10 days from today” to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or face tariffs, along with its oil buyers.
Moscow has shown no sign that it will agree to Mr Trump’s demands.
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On Thursday, Mr Medvedev reminded Mr Trump that Russia possessed a Soviet-era automated nuclear retaliatory system – or “dead hand”.
Mr Medvedev, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was referring to a secretive semi-automated Soviet command system designed to launch Russia’s missiles if its leadership was taken out in a decapitating strike.
He made the remarks after Mr Trump told him to “watch his words” after Mr Medvedev said the US president’s threat of hitting Russia and its oil buyers with punitive tariffs was “a game of ultimatums” and added that “each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war” between Russia and the US.
Dmitry Medvedev. Pic: Reuters
Mr Medvedev served as Russia’s president from 2008 and 2012, when Mr Putin was barred from seeking a third consecutive term, but then stepped aside to let him run again.
As deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, he has become known for his provocative and inflammatory statements since Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022.
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