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| In closing statements, defence lawyer Evan Corcoran told the court the path his client took "turned out to be a mistake", but "was not a crime". Steve Bannon speaks to reporters outside court on Thursday. "We may have lost the battle here today, but we're not going to lose this war," he said. (File photo by= Getty Images) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] A US jury has found Donald Trump's former strategist Steve Bannon guilty on two counts of contempt of Congress. Bannon, 68, was indicted last year over his refusal to co-operate with the congressional committee probing the events leading up to the Capitol riot, BBC reported. The former White House chief strategist is said to have been an unofficial adviser to Mr. Trump at the time of the insurrection on 6 January 2021.
He faces up to two years in jail and up to $200,000 (£167,000) in fines. Speaking to reporters outside court, Bannon vowed to have the case reversed on what his lawyer called a "bullet-proof appeal". His sentencing has been set for 21 October. Lawyers with the US Department of Justice had argued that Bannon felt "above the law" by ignoring a "mandatory" legal summons from the congressional committee investigating the 6 January breach of the US Capitol. Attorneys argued the trial against Bannon was an act of political retribution.
The 12-member jury panel deliberated for just under three hours on Friday before reaching its verdict. Meanwhile, Bannon was a key player in former President Donald Trump's 2016 election win, serving first as his campaign chief and later taking on the role of chief strategist at the White House.
