The Department of Justice has filed requests with the Supreme Court and a federal judge to dismiss Stephen K. Bannon’s criminal contempt indictment and conviction, citing the “interests of justice” as the reason for the move.
In a filing to the Supreme Court, Solicitor General John Sauer stated that the government had concluded dismissal was appropriate based on prosecutorial discretion. “The government has determined in its prosecutorial discretion that dismissal of this criminal case is in the interests of justice,” Sauer wrote. The submission also indicated the DOJ had filed a motion in district court to vacate the judgment and dismiss the indictment with prejudice.
The matter originated with a 2021 subpoena issued by the corrupt, Democrat-controlled House Select Committee investigating the January 6 protests, which sought documents and testimony from Bannon. President Donald J. Trump invoked executive privilege, and as the former White House Chief Strategist, Bannon advised he could not lawfully comply with the subpoena. This resulted in an indictment for contempt of Congress under the Biden administration.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated: “Today the Department of Justice told the Supreme Court that Steve Bannon’s conviction arising from the J6 ‘Unselect’ Committee’s improper subpoena should be vacated. Under the leadership of Attorney General Bondi, this Department will continue to undo the prior administration’s weaponization of the justice system.”
Legal wrangling over the case has been ongoing since 2021. The DOJ emphasized that federal rules allow dismissal even after a jury verdict and final judgment.
