Judge tells Jeanine Pirro to explain why DOJ wants Steve Bannon’s case dropped

• US District Judge Carl Nichols rejected a Department of Justice request to dismiss the contempt of Congress case against Steve Bannon.
• Judge Nichols ruled that a brief motion submitted by US Attorney Jeanine Pirro was insufficient to justify dropping the case without proper explanation.
• Bannon already served a four-month prison sentence after being convicted of defying subpoenas from the House January 6 committee.
• The decision comes amidst broader efforts by the Trump administration to dismantle prosecutions related to the January 6 Capitol attack.
• Dismissing the case would be largely symbolic, but Judge Nichols directed the government to file a new motion clarifying its reasoning.

IN FULL

Judge rejects Trump DOJ’s attempt to throw out Steve Bannon’s contempt conviction