“There’s Not a Prison Built That Will Ever Shut Me Up” Bannon to Begin Prison Sentence Amid Trump’s Skepticism
PHOTOGRAPHER: YURI GRIPAS/GETTY IMAGES
Steve Bannon, the former White House strategist and vocal supporter of Donald Trump, has been ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Carl Nichols to surrender to federal corrections and begin serving his prison sentence. Bannon was found guilty of defying a congressional subpoena from the January 6 Committee, which sought documents and testimony related to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
Bannon’s conviction involves his refusal to provide documents and to testify before the House Select Committee investigating the events of that day, which resulted in a deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol. Following the ruling, Bannon expressed a defiant stance against the Justice Department’s actions. “They’re not going to shut up Trump.
They’re not going to shut up [Peter] Navarro. They’re not going to shut up Bannon, and they’re certainly not going to shut up MAGA,” he declared outside the courthouse. He further emphasized his resilience, stating, “There’s nothing that can shut me up and nothing that will shut me up. There’s not a prison built or a jail built that will ever shut me up.”
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, who has had a complex relationship with Bannon since his White House departure, reacted to the sentencing with a critique of the January 6 Committee, led by Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY). Trump dismissed the proceedings as futile, claiming that vital information had been “illegally deleted and destroyed by these corrupt radicals,” although this assertion has been debunked.
“It would not have mattered whether Steve Bannon and others, went in front of the Unselect Committee of Criminal Hacks and Thugs BECAUSE ALL OF THE INFORMATION ENDED UP BEING ILLEGALLY DELETED AND DESTROYED BY THESE CORRUPT RADICALS!” Trump stated.
Controversy continues to surround the committee’s handling of evidence. Rep. George Loudermilk (R-GA) criticized the committee for incomplete documentation, pointing out missing video recordings, transcripts, and details about the panel’s methods. His concerns highlight ongoing Republican skepticism about the thoroughness and transparency of the investigation.
As Bannon prepares for his incarceration, scheduled to start on July 1, the debate over the integrity and consequences of the January 6 Committee’s findings remains heated. Former committee chair Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) defended the committee’s record management, stating that temporary records not used in official capacities were not archived, adhering to standard procedural guidance. This ongoing clash underscores the deep divisions and tumultuous political landscape following the events of January 6.
