Holy Leniency, Batman! Steve Bannon turned himself in this morning after having an arrest warrant served Friday and so far relations between the authorities and Bannon resemble more of a country club initiation than federal contempt proceedings. I wonder if they asked Bannon if he prefers his wines served chilled or room temperature.
Bannon will be required to check-in weekly w/ Pretrial Services by phone. He must remain at listed address. And he must notify Pretrial Services for any travel outside U.S. Court pretrial services has possession of Bannon's passport
Feds aren't seeking more restrictions
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) November 15, 2021
Steve Bannon wants a virtual hearing on Thursday. Most defendants have been afforded that opportunity in DC federal court this year, due to COVID restrictions
Looks like Bannon will bypass another photo-op outside the courthouse for his Thursday 11am hearing
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) November 15, 2021
I'd be surprised if Bannon walks out of court today *without* stopping to speak to the many cameras and reporters gathered outside
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) November 15, 2021
Pretty mild mannered and low key so far. Personally, I thought that they would see Bannon as a flight risk. If the next missive we get from him is a postcard from Belize, we’ll know, won’t we?
He’ll have to talk to the court if he wants to leave the country – they have his passport. (Or at least the official one. Anyone want to be he doesn’t have at least one from Belarus or Hungary?)
Treated just like any poor defendant. Right. That’s showin them.
There was a time not that long ago when a white collar defendant who’d been allowed several days to turn himself in for formal arrest followed by arraignment that a judge would have verbally slapped him around from the bench for showing up looking like that. Think My Cousin Vinny when the judge makes it’s clear from then on Vinny WILL show up in court properly groomed and dressed in an actual suit.
Showing up looking like that was a planned insult to the court on Bannon’s part. He wasn’t hauled out of his home in the wee hours like his asshole buddy Roger Stone. (Not that I wouldn’t have loved seeing it – complete with a “is that KSM or Ron Jeremy?” booking photo) I haven’t heard much news this afternoon, so I don’t know if the judge did in fact say anything about it. But I’m stunned that there’s even the possibility of Bannon being allowed to travel outside the country. For that matter only having to check in once a week is an insult. This guy has resources – both money and connections. He should be under house arrest. And warned about a gag order being placed on him if he talks trash about the court and his case. Hell, if I were the judge I wouldn’t give him any rope at all.
You want to get this case to trial and over with in a hurry? Give Bannon house arrest complete with an ankle monitor, and place a gag order on the case. The first and I mean FIRST time Bannon violates the latter revoke his bail and remand him to custody. His ass will be BEGGING to exercise his Constitutional right to a speedy trial. This whole thing can and should be resolved by early January and only taking that long because of the holidays.
Bannon knows damn well that he will lose, and the only alternative to a federal conviction for which Trump no longer holds the power to pardon him for his only option to avoid the penalty is to provide the subpoenad documents and show up and testify as soon as the Committee can assemble to take his testimony. I rather think they will move a lot of stuff around to get his butt in there pronto!
Much as I would like to see Bannon (and Traitor Tot, McTurtle,etc…) perp-walked out of a courtroom in chains and right into prison, I would almost say let him leave, as long as he is NOT allowed to return EVER!