Politics

DOJ renews bid to dismiss Bannon's contempt of Congress conviction

The Justice Department cites prosecutorial discretion and trial-fairness doubts, after a judge rejected a similar bid in August.

Published Nov 5, 2026 · 19:51 UTC2 reports

The short version

The Justice Department renewed its request that a federal judge dismiss Steve Bannon's 2022 conviction for contempt of Congress.[ABC News]
The filing cites prosecutorial discretion and says the United States has significant doubts about the fairness of Bannon's trial.[ABC News]
Judge Carl Nichols rejected a similar motion in August, while Bannon's legal team did not oppose the new request.[NBC News · ABC News]

The Justice Department filed a renewed motion asking a federal judge to dismiss Steve Bannon's 2022 conviction for contempt of Congress.[ABC News]
Bannon was convicted in 2022 on two counts of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack, and served four months in prison in 2024.[ABC News]
Judge Carl Nichols rejected a similar DOJ motion to dismiss in August, finding prosecutors had not provided sufficient justification.[ABC News]
According to the DOJ filing, the request rests on prosecutorial discretion and the administration's view that charging a former presidential adviser who withheld compliance based on asserted executive privilege is not appropriate.[NBC News · ABC News]
Bannon's legal team did not oppose the Justice Department's motion.[NBC News]

The DOJ's stated doubts about the fairness of Bannon's trial and whether precedent barred a willfulness defense are the government's assertions and have not been decided by a court.[ABC News]
No ruling on the renewed motion is reported in the available coverage.[NBC News · ABC News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.