Jurors in the trial of former White House official Steve Bannon reached a verdict Friday afternoon after less than three hours of deliberation, according to a U.S. district court official.
The verdict is expected to be read soon in the courtroom where U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols is presiding. The jury earlier Friday heard closing arguments from both the prosecution and defense.
The Department of Justice charged Bannon with two counts of contempt of Congress after he ignored a subpoena from the House Jan. 6 committee. Bannon pleaded not guilty.
The Justice Department began closing arguments Friday morning with prosecutor Molly Gaston telling jurors, “This is a man who didn’t show up.”
“He didn’t want to recognize Congress’ authority or play by the government’s rules,” Gaston said. “Our government only works if people show up and play by the rules and are held accountable when they do not.”
“When he chose to defy a congressional subpoena, that was a crime,” Gaston continued. “The defendant chose allegiance to Donald Trump over compliance with the law.”
Bannon is facing 30 days to a year in prison for each of the two misdemeanor charges.
The defense, however, told jurors that “the entire foundation of the government’s case rests” on the testimony of January 6th Committee staffer Kristen Amerling.
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