Justice Department Seeks to Overturn Bannon's Contempt Conviction

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The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to overturn the criminal contempt of Congress conviction of former Trump aide Steve Bannon. This comes as the White House has created a new webpage to mark the fifth anniversary of the January 6th riots, which saw 140 police officers injured.

Why it matters

The Justice Department's move to overturn Bannon's conviction is seen as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to downplay the events of January 6th and the accountability of those involved. The White House's new webpage is also viewed as an attempt to shape the narrative around the riots.

The details

Steve Bannon, a former top adviser to ex-President Donald Trump, was convicted of contempt of Congress last year for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Justice Department is now seeking to have that conviction overturned, arguing that "dismissal of this criminal case is in the interests of justice."

• The January 6th riots occurred 5 years ago.
• Bannon was convicted of contempt of Congress last year.

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to grant the Justice Department's request to overturn Bannon's conviction.