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THIS, is an OPINION. It is not fact. If only some people could disseminate between the two... 
Opinion: Why Steve Bannon's conviction really matters
Opinion: Why Steve Bannon's conviction really matters
Even though Bannon’s conviction is for contempt, rather than for an underlying crime, the principle remains the same. For more than two centuries, America has been a society bound by the rule of law, not the rule of men – and we need to keep it that way.
Bannon’s case was weak from the start. Opening his criminal trial, prosecutor Amanda Vaughn told the jury, “This case is about the defendant thumbing his nose at the orderly process of our government.” Referring to Bannon’s failure to appear before the January 6 committee, she explained: “The defendant didn’t get the date wrong. He didn’t get confused on where to go. He didn’t get stuck on a broken down metro car. He just refused to follow the rules.”
Bannon’s case was weak from the start. Opening his criminal trial, prosecutor Amanda Vaughn told the jury, “This case is about the defendant thumbing his nose at the orderly process of our government.” Referring to Bannon’s failure to appear before the January 6 committee, she explained: “The defendant didn’t get the date wrong. He didn’t get confused on where to go. He didn’t get stuck on a broken down metro car. He just refused to follow the rules.”
The defense raised two issues at the beginning of the trial to try to justify Bannon’s lack of compliance.
First, they claimed that Bannon was still negotiating with the committee after his failure to produce subpoenaed documents and to appear, and before Congress held him in contempt.
But the evidence showed that he never asked the committee to move the deadline for his appearance. And the day after his subpoena deadline passed, his verified Gettr account posted: “Steve Bannon tells the Jan 6 select committee that he will NOT comply with their subpoena.”
First, they claimed that Bannon was still negotiating with the committee after his failure to produce subpoenaed documents and to appear, and before Congress held him in contempt.
But the evidence showed that he never asked the committee to move the deadline for his appearance. And the day after his subpoena deadline passed, his verified Gettr account posted: “Steve Bannon tells the Jan 6 select committee that he will NOT comply with their subpoena.”
Nichols also rightly rejected his non-viable defense that his lawyer advised him he could defy the committee, as well as his claims that the committee’s subpoena was invalid and that internal Justice Department policies protected him.
All of this led Bannon’s lawyer to ask the court, “What’s the point of going to trial if there are no defenses?” To which Nichols pithily replied, “Agreed.” When a defendant goes to trial despite the overwhelming proof of his guilt, prosecutors say the trial is little more than “a long guilty plea.”
All of this led Bannon’s lawyer to ask the court, “What’s the point of going to trial if there are no defenses?” To which Nichols pithily replied, “Agreed.” When a defendant goes to trial despite the overwhelming proof of his guilt, prosecutors say the trial is little more than “a long guilty plea.”
Here’s an even more fundamental point. Subpoena defiance and the insurrection are birds of a feather. The American system of government requires that there be both a peaceful transition of power and a successful investigation of those who seek to interfere with it. Deterrence by punishment for such interference is the only way to stabilize American democracy.
Bannon has used his defiance as an opportunity to bolster his MAGA brand – with more of his usual bravado. That, however, will not shield him from the consequences in a federal court where the judge has seen through his ploys. Bannon now faces a minimum of 30 days and up to one year in jail on each of the two counts.
In November, after being arraigned, Bannon said this trial would be “the misdemeanor from hell” for the Biden administration. Nichols and the jury made sure that did not happen – except perhaps to Bannon himself. In a society governed by the rule of law, there is a piper to be paid.
Bannon has used his defiance as an opportunity to bolster his MAGA brand – with more of his usual bravado. That, however, will not shield him from the consequences in a federal court where the judge has seen through his ploys. Bannon now faces a minimum of 30 days and up to one year in jail on each of the two counts.
In November, after being arraigned, Bannon said this trial would be “the misdemeanor from hell” for the Biden administration. Nichols and the jury made sure that did not happen – except perhaps to Bannon himself. In a society governed by the rule of law, there is a piper to be paid.
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