The Justice Department has moved to dismiss its criminal case against Steve Bannon, a former aide to President Donald Trump. The case was related to Bannon's refusal to testify before the congressional committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Bannon was convicted in 2022 on two counts of contempt of Congress for not appearing for a deposition or producing documents requested by the House committee. He served four months in federal prison in 2024.
DOJ Seeks Case Dismissal
In its unopposed motion filed on Monday, the Justice Department stated that:
Dismissal of the case is "in the interests of justice."
The department asked the Supreme Court to vacate the judgment against Bannon and send the case back to a lower court for dismissal. Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, also filed a motion with the lower court judge requesting dismissal, which Bannon does not oppose.
Symbolic Action Following Prison Term
This legal action would be largely symbolic, as Bannon has already completed his prison sentence. The indictment and conviction against Bannon followed a House vote in 2021 to find him in contempt of Congress.
The Jan. 6 committee had sought information regarding comments Bannon made the day before the riot, including his statement on a radio program:
"All hell is going to break loose tomorrow."
Bannon had previously declined to comply with the subpoena for his testimony and documents, citing an assertion of executive privilege by Trump.
Bannon's Background
After leading Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, Bannon served as a senior counselor and chief strategist in the White House during Trump's first term. He currently hosts a podcast.