Chris Cuomo and Bannon clash over validity of upcoming midterms if Democrats win

NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo on Tuesday questioned former White House adviser Steve Bannon about if he will accept the outcome of the midterm elections if Democrats defeat Republicans.

“I want to ask you straight, here on the record,” Cuomo began before asking Bannon if the GOP lost key races, “will you accept the results of the election?” during a town hall event on NewsNation, the Hill’s sister network, on Tuesday night.

“We have to first off — let’s have the election first,” Bannon responded.

Bannon then added later that “they certified an illegitimate election in 2020,” bringing up an unfounded claim that President Trump won that year’s presidential election.

“I went to prison for that,” Bannon said. “I’m proud I went to prison for that.”

“You went to prison because you wouldn’t testify,” Cuomo replied. “That’s why you went to prison.”

Bannon retorted that his prison sentence was “about the 2020 election, Chris, thank you very much,” adding that he “wouldn’t bend the knee to [former House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi [(D-Calif.)].”

“You wouldn’t bend the knee to democracy,” Cuomo shot back.

Bannon was served a four-month prison sentence about two years ago for refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena related to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The former White House adviser’s comments come as Democrats appear poised to make gains in both the House and Senate in this year’s midterm elections. Decision Desk HQ has forecasted that following the elections, the Democrats will retake the Senate and House with 51 seats and 235 seats, respectively.

Trump and his party are facing rocky political territory as Election Day creeps closer, with the unpopular war in Iran raging on for months, the president’s approval rating sagging and notable concerns about the cost of living.