Trump aide Steve Bannon sentenced to prison
The United States court has sentenced former US President Trump's aide Steve Bannon to four months in prison on charges of non-cooperation with the congressional committee investigating the riots on Capitol Hill. However, Bannon's lawyer said that he will appeal to the high court. At the same time, the US congressional committee issued a summons against Trump again within a week. The committee has also set a time for Trump to testify in the case.
On January 6, 2021, the world witnessed the worst attack in the history of the United States. Thousands of Trump supporters attacked Capitol Hill at the instigation of former US President Donald Trump after his defeat in the election. Vandalism was carried out in the vicinity of the Parliament. At one stage, riots were also carried out inside the parliament. Five people including the police were killed in that riot. Many were injured.
The US Congressional Committee began investigating how Donald Trump's supporters invaded the Congress building during the approval process of President Joe Biden's victory in Congress that day. Steve Bannon, Trump's unofficial adviser at the time, was asked to testify on behalf of the committee. Several documents are requested. However, Bannon was found guilty of contempt of Congress for refusing to testify and not submitting documents to the court. The US Department of Justice requested a six-month prison sentence and two hundred thousand dollars against him.
US District Judge Carl Nichols sentenced Bannon to four months in prison on Friday (October 21). Bannon was also fined $6,500. However, Bannon's lawyer said that he will appeal to the high court, rejecting the verdict.
A few hours later, the US Congressional Committee issued a summons against former US President Donald Trump to testify in the case of inciting riots on Capitol Hill. The committee issued the summons within a week. According to the committee, the committee has fixed the time for him to testify in the case till the middle of November. Trump faces criminal charges as well as prison terms if he does not testify. Trump's lawyers strongly condemned it.
Sources: BBC, Reuters
