Steve Bannon's Legal Battle Takes a Surprising Turn

The Trump-appointed judge said the DOJ will need to offer a better explanation.

August 26, 2026, 5:51 PM

A Trump-appointed federal judge in Washington, D.C., declined a request from the Justice Department to dismiss the contempt of Congress conviction for Trump ally Steve Bannon, telling prosecutors in a ruling Wednesday that they will need to come back with a better explanation if they want to clear Bannon's record. 

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.