Steve Bannon has exposed himself and his lawyers to possible sanctions for refusing to pay his former lawyer.
The former White House chief strategist and Jan. 6 'Stop the Steal' plotter has been trying to avoid a four-month prison sentence on his conviction for contempt of Congress and faces another trial in May for his alleged "Build the Wall" scam.
And on top of all that, he faces possible consequences for refusing to settle a legal debt, reported The Daily Beast.
“Bannon, with the aid of his counsel, has, for months, done nothing but intentionally stall and delay plaintiff’s enforcement of its valid money judgment,” wrote the law firm that previously represented him to a New York state judge.
A judge ordered Bannon seven months ago to pay the $484,197 he owes to former defense attorney Bob Costello, and his New York City law firm of Davidoff Hutcher and Citron has asked the court to step in again.
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The firm sent subpoenas trying to learn more about Bannon's personal finances, and emails show his new lawyer Harlan Protass agreed in November to schedule a deposition and turn over documents pending a confidentiality agreement, but nothing happened until January, when Bannon suddenly refused to turn over bank records that could potentially be used as evidence in his fraud trial.
“DHC’s taking of post-judgment discovery from Mr. Bannon poses a significant risk of compromising Mr. Bannon’s Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination,” Protass wrote in court filings.
Costello's firm complained to the court last month that Bannon and Protass were "stalling," and senior counsel Joseph Polito asked New York Supreme Court justice Arlene P. Bluth to sanction each of them the maximum $109,000 “for engaging in intentional dilatory litigation tactics" – and seeks additional penalties for wasting his time hounding the right-wing influencer.
“Bannon’s intentional bad faith conduct has left plaintiff with no other choice but to seek civil contempt and sanctions," Polio wrote. "Without this relief, Bannon will be further emboldened to continue his dilatory tactics that have, and continue to, severely prejudice plaintiff in its efforts to satisfy the substantial money judgment that remains outstanding."
