Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon was released without bail Monday after surrendering to federal authorities in Washington, D.C., where he faces criminal charges after defying a subpoena from the lawmakers investigating the deadly Capitol invasion. The 67-year-old Bannon was charged with two counts of contempt of Congress following his refusal to comply with demands to produce documents and sit for a deposition as part of that investigation. Each count of contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $100,000.
Magistrate Judge Robin Meriweather said during Bannon’s brief initial appearance that he will be subject to general supervision requirements as part of the conditions of his release. He will have to regularly report to pretrial services and alert them to any plans to travel outside Washington. Bannon has also surrendered his passport and agreed not to obtain any other international travel documents.
Bannon did not enter a plea at the hearing. He is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols on Thursday at 11 a.m. ET. Appearing outside the FBI’s Washington field office before turning himself in, Bannon claimed he and his allies were “taking down the Biden regime.”
Bannon was a senior White House advisor during the first seven months of Trump’s single term in office. He was fired by Trump years before the 2020 presidential election and the Jan. 6 invasion.
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