BREAKING: Bannon Loses Appeal. Lock Him Up!

It took long enough, in fact WAY too long but finally the DC Court of Appeals has issued a ruling denying world class scumbag P.O.S. Steve Bannon’s appeal of  his conviction for Contempt of Congress. Since the news only broke mid-morning more will be said about this by news outlets as the day progresses but here’s what we know so far.

I’ve reviewed multiple outlets and most have little to say but here’s The Guardian’s story on the matter:

A unanimous ruling from a three-judge panel of the District of Columbia circuit court of appeals upheld Bannon’s conviction on Friday. The decision brings him closer to a four-month sentence behind bars meted out to Bannon for having resisted the terms of Congress’s subpoena against him.

He has one last hope left to avoid a prison term – he could appeal to the full bench of the circuit court.

I think it’s safe to say Bannon will request an en banc hearing – that part above about having the full bench of the Circuit hear his appeal. They are under no obligation to do so and given the panel’s decision was unanimous it’s unlikely the entire gang would overturn Bannon’s conviction. The question is how long with they fiddle-fart around before telling him no. Or worse, decide: Gee whiz, we wouldn’t want to deny this “very fine person” (nod to you mister former President Trump) his GOD GIVEN right to delay justice even if he so richly deserves it so we’ll take up the matter. And get around to it… someday. In a year or so. Can’t rush these things!

I’d like to remind you of something else noted in the linked article. Bannon was convicted back in July, 2022 of two counts of Criminal Contempt of Congress. Note again he was convicted in JULY 2022!  It wasn’t until the fall of 2022 he was actually sentenced – to four months in prison.  He of course appealed and the appeals court couldn’t be bothered to get around to actually hearing his appeal until November of 2023. After all THAT time, it’s only today six freaking months later the panel decided, much as they hated to so to issue a ruling!  You might reasonably have come to a belief before this I’m in a sarcastic mood with the “good” judges at the Court of Appeals. Well, sarcastic is one word of what I feel about them. Another is, I’ve gotta say it is contemptuous. Scornful, and a whole bunch of other things I know better than to write. (I enjoy getting to post  here and don’t want Ursula to have to ban me)

Let me remind you of the case of Peter Navarro. Like Bannon he refused to comply with a subpoena from Congress on the same bullsh*t Executive Privilege grounds as Bannon. A criminal referral was made to DOJ and eventually charges were filed in June, 2022. (Yep, about a month before Bannon was convicted) Navarro dragged things out (of course) but eventually was tried and convicted in Sept. 2023. So he appealed. THIS appeal was handled rather more expeditiously. The conviction was upheld by the DC Circuit, and when Navarro tried to get SCOTUS to take up the matter Chief Justice Roberts who handles matters for that Circuits issued a prompt denial. Navarro was ordered to report to prison and is sitting there doing his sentence as I write this.

In case you’re wondering yes, Navarro complained about how Bannon was convicted long before HE was and still has remained out on appeal while within several months his own appeal was taken up and denied and he had to start serving his time. I feel sick inside having to say in any instance one of these Trump fluffing asshats has a valid point, and right now I’m glad I haven’t eaten since breakfast because I’d be throwing up.

But let’s look again at the timing of all this. Bannon gets convicted in July 2022 and sentenced that fall. He’s allowed to remain free during his appeal as is the case with rich and/or powerful people for… reasons. That’s just how things are. Almost a year passes and in Sept. 2023 Navarro gets convicted for the same thing, Contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with a subpoena (and over the same issue – his claim of Executive Privilege wasn’t legally valid) and the panel assigned to hear BANNON’s appeal has yet to actually have THAT hearing/oral arguments. Bannon’s panel finally hears oral arguments in November 2023 while Navarro’s appeal is rocketing (in comparison) through the process via a different three-judge panel.

Navarro loses his appeal, Chief Justice Roberts quickly tells him no, SCOTUS isn’t going to indulge him and Navarro has to start serving his sentence while Bannon remains free. Because HIS panel has yet to issue a ruling! Yeah, I can see why Navarro is pissed. I would be too if I were him. Bannon of course is loving all this.  Even today. He’ll wait as long as he legally can and file his request for an en banc hearing. Who the hell knows how long it will be before the Circuit decides whether to grant his request?  Maybe the bulk of them will be embarrassed about the comparisons between Bannon and Navarro, especially if Navarro’s lawyer makes the round of news shows and makes a fuss.

But even looking at things optimistically and the full Circuit swiftly telling Bannon to stick his request where the sun don’t shine he can, and will still file a request for SCOTUS to take up the matter. Will Roberts give BANNON the same cold shoulder Navarro got? I wouldn’t go placing any bets.

Steve Bannon deserves to be locked up. For him a mere four months wouldn’t be much worse than when he was a young Naval Officer on a destroyer four decades ago. Ok, maybe a little. He’d live more the life of an enlisted puke packed into living quarters like a sardine, and getting to take a “Navy Shower” once a week. (FYI a Navy Shower means just enough water to wet yourself down. Rub yourself with soap and turn the water back on JUST enough to rinse most of the soap off)

Still, four months locked up and not getting to do his podcast, having to deal with prison routine and eating prison food is better than nothing. Also, back when he was on a Destroyer even as a junior Officer he outranked 95% of the ship. Rank had its privileges. In prison he’ll be just another skell and if he tries to act superior he’ll find himself on the receiving end of an enlisted puke style “blanket party” that will humble him right damn quick.

So once again I say LOCK HIM UP!  (The sooner the better. Pretty please your Honors?)