Index Investing News
Saturday, May 24, 2025
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Home
  • World
  • Investing
  • Financial
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Stocks
  • Crypto
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Home
  • World
  • Investing
  • Financial
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Stocks
  • Crypto
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Index Investing News
No Result
View All Result

Contempt of Congress: Could Steve Bannon Acquire MAGA Sainthood?

by Index Investing News
October 22, 2022
in Financial
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
0
Home Financial
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


On October 21, former Trump campaign strategist Steve Bannon was sentenced to four months in prison – and ordered to pay a $6,500 fine – after the Jan. 6 Committee held him in contempt of Congress. Not since the 1950s has anyone been incarcerated for this particular transgression, though many since then have been held in contempt by various congressional bodies. So, why is Bannon going to prison, assuming his appeal is unsuccessful? One can only speculate. Nevertheless, to some, it might smack of the heavy-handedness with which Democrats and the authorities have dealt with anyone associated with and loyal to the 45th president.

For proper context, though, it should be noted that Bannon got off with a lighter punishment than prosecutors wanted. Still, contempt of Congress is generally not something for which anyone goes to prison. Bannon, unlike Barack Obama’s attorney general, Eric Holder – who was held in contempt for refusing to hand over documents relating to Operation Fast and Furious – did not have the luxury of a sympathetic Department of Justice. In recent decades, the DOJ has declined to prosecute government officials from both Democratic and Republican administrations who were held in contempt by congressional committees controlled by the opposing party. Officials from both the George W. Bush and Obama administrations benefited from that very discretion the DOJ is entitled to exercise. Steve Bannon, then, was perhaps the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time, one might say.

What is Contempt of Congress?

Like impeachment, contempt of Congress can be a somewhat arbitrary thing. The Constitution does not explicitly confer upon Congress the power to hold someone in contempt, but that authority is implied. Perhaps the easiest explanation of the rationale is provided by Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute: “[S]uch power is considered implied because without it, Congress could not effectively carry out its duties.” Congress can investigate matters if there is some legislative purpose. Obviously, those investigations require the gathering of documents and the testimony of relevant individuals. The Supreme Court has recognized the authority of Congress to hold in contempt those who refuse to comply with subpoenas, hand over documents, “or who, having appeared, refuses to answer any question pertinent to the question under inquiry.” That last part seems somewhat amusing, though, considering the number of times witnesses have refused to give straight or clear answers during congressional hearings – and on some occasions refused to answer the question at all.

Steve Bannon

Steve Bannon (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The Supreme Court has also recognized, however, that the investigative powers of Congress are limited. Matters of law enforcement, for example – rather like the issue of the Jan. 6 Capitol unrest – are not within the purview of Congress. Those are matters for the executive branch and for law enforcement agencies.

The last time anyone went to prison for contempt of Congress was when, in 1947, hearings began on the possible infiltration of the movie industry by communist sympathizers. In 1948, the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) held 10 movie writers, directors, and producers – known as the “Hollywood Ten” – in contempt for refusing to tell the committee whether they were communists. Eight of the men were sentenced to one year in prison and the other two received six-month terms.

What Next for Steve Bannon?

The former media executive who became Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor to the President had been one of Donald Trump’s staunchest allies, though friction between the two emerged during the course of the Trump administration. His fall from grace was previously documented by Liberty Nation, but so was a prediction of his possible re-emergence. Bannon announced his intention to appeal the conviction outside the courthouse in a brief but fiery address to reporters. “On November 8th,” Bannon said, “they’re gonna have judgment [sic] on the illegitimate Biden regime and quite frankly, Nancy Pelosi and the entire [Jan. 6] committee. And we know which way that’s going.” Clearly relishing his moment back in front of the microphones – having made no public statements during his trial – Bannon went so far as to suggest that “the Biden administration ends on the evening of the eighth of November” and that Attorney General Merrick Garland would be removed from office, though he did not elaborate on how or why that would come to pass.

Regardless of whether one believes Steve Bannon’s conviction or sentence was just or appropriate, it will likely do him no harm to serve a brief prison sentence. On the contrary, it may even raise his standing among hardcore Trump supporters who could come to see him as something of a martyr. The Jan. 6 Committee has achieved little except to harden the resolve of Mr. Trump’s most loyal followers and Bannon’s incarceration may well serve, even if only symbolically, as another reason for them to continue the battle they see as being between American patriots and the establishment. Trump’s opponents may view it as a small victory but, to Steve Bannon and to MAGA Country, this will be yet one more reason why America First populism must be more rigorously pursued, and the Washington Swamp drained.



Source link

Tags: AcquireBannonCongressContemptMAGASainthoodSteve
ShareTweetShareShare
Previous Post

Liz Truss resignation: Why the UK always seems to be in political crisis

Next Post

Big Techs Q3 outlook and things to watch. : stocks

Related Posts

Aegis Vopak Terminals IPO: Firm raises Rs 1,260 crore from Nomura, Aberdeen 30 different anchor buyers

Aegis Vopak Terminals IPO: Firm raises Rs 1,260 crore from Nomura, Aberdeen 30 different anchor buyers

by Index Investing News
May 24, 2025
0

Storage options supplier Aegis Vopak Terminals has raised Rs 1,260 crore crore from 32 anchor buyers, allocating over 5.36 crore...

Salesforce exec says rise of AI brokers means ‘each job must be rethought’

Salesforce exec says rise of AI brokers means ‘each job must be rethought’

by Index Investing News
May 24, 2025
0

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Restricted. All Rights Reserved. Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our Phrases of Use...

Bicara: Inventory Decline On FICERA Summary Launch Creates Shopping for Alternative (NASDAQ:BCAX)

Bicara: Inventory Decline On FICERA Summary Launch Creates Shopping for Alternative (NASDAQ:BCAX)

by Index Investing News
May 24, 2025
0

This text was written byComply withTerry Chrisomalis is a personal investor within the Biotech sector with years of expertise using...

Leela Lodges Operator Schloss Bangalore Raises Rs 1,575 Crore From Anchor Traders Forward Of IPO

Leela Lodges Operator Schloss Bangalore Raises Rs 1,575 Crore From Anchor Traders Forward Of IPO

by Index Investing News
May 23, 2025
0

Schloss Bangalore, the operator of the Indian luxurious resort 'The Leela', has finalised allocation of 36,206,896 fairness shares to anchor...

India to push Monetary Motion Job Power to place Pakistan on gray record once more: Sources

India to push Monetary Motion Job Power to place Pakistan on gray record once more: Sources

by Index Investing News
May 23, 2025
0

The Narendra Modi authorities plans to recommend putting Pakistan again to the “gray record” at a key assembly of the...

Next Post
Big Techs Q3 outlook and things to watch. : stocks

Big Techs Q3 outlook and things to watch. : stocks

Factbox-Key ministers in new Italian Meloni government By Reuters

Factbox-Key ministers in new Italian Meloni government By Reuters

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RECOMMENDED

Did transatlantic slavery and colonial borders wreck West African girls’s actions?

Did transatlantic slavery and colonial borders wreck West African girls’s actions?

June 18, 2022
This Is The Time For SCHD To Shine (NYSEARCA:SCHD)

This Is The Time For SCHD To Shine (NYSEARCA:SCHD)

March 9, 2025
The ‘Most wins for every NBA franchise’ quiz

The ‘Most wins for every NBA franchise’ quiz

July 19, 2024
US resolution on Nippon bid for US Metal pushed again till after election By Reuters

US resolution on Nippon bid for US Metal pushed again till after election By Reuters

September 18, 2024
Emerald Holding, Inc. (EEX) Q1 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Emerald Holding, Inc. (EEX) Q1 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

May 5, 2023
China releases 5 detained workers from US due diligence agency Mintz Group | Enterprise and Economic system Information

China releases 5 detained workers from US due diligence agency Mintz Group | Enterprise and Economic system Information

March 25, 2025
Behind Iran’s restraint in West Asia battle

Behind Iran’s restraint in West Asia battle

December 13, 2024
Sustainability Street: The Rapidly Rising Role of ESG

Sustainability Street: The Rapidly Rising Role of ESG

January 27, 2024
Index Investing News

Get the latest news and follow the coverage of Investing, World News, Stocks, Market Analysis, Business & Financial News, and more from the top trusted sources.

  • 1717575246.7
  • Browse the latest news about investing and more
  • Contact us
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • DMCA
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • xtw18387b488

Copyright © 2022 - Index Investing News.
Index Investing News is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World
  • Investing
  • Financial
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Stocks
  • Crypto
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion

Copyright © 2022 - Index Investing News.
Index Investing News is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In