Index Investing News
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
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

Listen to borrowers before classifying accounts as fraud: Supreme Court

by Index Investing News
March 27, 2023
0

The Supreme Court on Monday held that borrowers must be given an opportunity to be heard before their accounts are...

Tesla Deliveries Expected To Set Record But Analysts Predict 2023 EPS Shrinking

by Index Investing News
March 27, 2023
0

Tesla (TSLA) deliveries in the first quarter are expected to set another record, prompting analysts to say Monday that if...

Rossari Biotech: We are focussed on growing our export market: Sunil Srinivasan Chari, Rossari Biotech

by Index Investing News
March 27, 2023
0

"Yes, our quarter-on-quarter growth in HPPC continues to remain strong and we have covered up any loss of customer sale....

Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed as banking sector stress lingers, US and Europe futures..

by Index Investing News
March 27, 2023
0

Japan +0.49%. Japan PPI services for February +1.8% (expected +1.7%, prior +1.6%). China -0.62% China January - February Industrial profits...

A Wharton professor gave A.I. tools 30 minutes to work on a business project. The results were ‘superhuman’ 

by Index Investing News
March 27, 2023
0

Artificial intelligence is presenting new possibilities on how to do work, and leaving many observers nervous about what will become...

Next Post

Big Techs Q3 outlook and things to watch. : stocks

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

Intersecting Crises are Impeding the UNs Sustainable Growth Objectives, Threatening Peace & Safety — World Points

July 8, 2022

Is ‘Made in Japan’ again with the weaker yen?

June 14, 2022

King Charles Will Invite Prince Harry & Meghan Markle To His Coronation!

December 18, 2022

Paddles up: Pickleball becoming big business, led by an Austin league with pro sports team owners

December 15, 2022

The Best Streaming Service for Live TV, According to Viewers

October 16, 2022

A long way still for India to be the best democracy

December 4, 2022

How can I watch the Black Friday NFL game?

March 8, 2023

10 Monday AM Reads – The Large Image

August 23, 2022
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.

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

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