D.C. Appeals Court Denies Steve Bannon's Contempt Rehearing

Former Trump White House strategist Steve Bannon has suffered another judicial defeat as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit refused to grant an en banc review of his contempt of Congress convictions related to his refusal to comply with subpoenas from the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack. Bannon was convicted in July 2022 and sentenced to four months in prison, with multiple appeals to various courts, including the Supreme Court, having been unsuccessful. The appeals court's decision rested on longstanding precedent from the 1961 Licavoli v. United States case, which holds that an advice of counsel defense is not available in contempt cases, a precedent some judges believe only the Supreme Court can overturn. While some appellate judges dissented, arguing that the willfulness requirement in contempt law has been misinterpreted for over six decades, the majority upheld the precedent, effectively blocking Bannon's bid for reconsideration. Despite these setbacks, Bannon continues to challenge the prosecution and seeks vindication of his rights regarding his convictions. The case underscores the ongoing legal complexities surrounding contempt of Congress and the limits of defenses based on legal advice.