{"slug":"steve-bannon-1996-domestic-violence-charges","title":"Steve Bannon Charged With Misdemeanor Domestic Violence, Battery and Witness Intimidation (1996); Case Dismissed","date":"1996-01-01","lastUpdated":"2026-10-10","description":"In January 1996 Steve Bannon was charged in Los Angeles Municipal Court with misdemeanor domestic violence, battery and witness intimidation after his then-wife told Santa Monica police he had grabbed her wrist and neck and smashed a phone when she tried to call 911 on New Year's Day. Bannon pleaded not guilty, and the case was dismissed in August 1996 when she did not appear for trial. Bannon became White House Chief Strategist on January 20, 2017.","summary":"According to the police report, police photographed red marks on the woman's left wrist and the right side of her neck. The court issued a domestic violence protective order. The charges were dismissed without trial when the complaining witness did not appear; the police report recorded allegations that Bannon threatened her with retribution if she testified. Bannon's spokeswoman noted the dismissal.","category":"civil-rights","severity":"pre-office","ongoing":false,"sources":[{"url":"https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-bannon-abuse-allegations-20160826-snap-story.html","title":"Domestic violence allegations from 1996 surface against chief of Donald Trump's campaign","publisher":"Los Angeles Times"},{"url":"https://www.npr.org/2016/08/26/491440310/reports-new-trump-campaign-ceo-faced-domestic-violence-charge-in-1996","title":"Trump Campaign CEO Stephen K. Bannon Was Charged With Domestic Violence In 1996","publisher":"NPR"}],"draft":false,"status":"published","tags":["domestic-violence","dismissed","pre-office"],"relatedEntries":[],"timeline":[{"date":"1996-01-01","title":"Police called to the home","summary":"Santa Monica police respond to a dropped 911 call and record the woman's account and visible marks."},{"date":"1996-08-01","title":"Case dismissed","summary":"In August 1996 the charges are dismissed when the complaining witness does not appear for trial (the source gives the month, not the day)."}],"location":{"name":"Santa Monica, California"},"custom":{"posture":"judicial-finding","structuredPerpetrators":[{"name":"Steve Bannon","role":"Private individual"}],"updateLog":[{"date":"2026-10-10","summary":"Added for the Before Office record. Bannon first joined the administration as White House Chief Strategist on January 20, 2017."}],"keyPoints":["On New Year's Day 1996 police received a 911 call from the Santa Monica home that went dead; the responding officer reported red marks on the woman's wrist and neck","Bannon was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence, battery and witness intimidation, and the court issued a domestic violence protective order, according to a Santa Monica city statement","Bannon pleaded not guilty; the case was dismissed in August 1996 when his then-wife did not appear for trial","NPR, citing the New York Times account of the police report, noted allegations that he threatened her with retribution if she testified"],"verificationStatus":"cross-referenced","postureNote":"Misdemeanor charges in Los Angeles Municipal Court (1996); not-guilty plea; dismissed in August 1996 when the complaining witness did not appear for trial, per a Santa Monica city statement reported by the Los Angeles Times. No adjudication.","subjects":["steve-bannon"],"legalStatus":"charged"}}