Steve Bannon, a long-time strategist to former US President Donald Trump, appeared in federal court yesterday after surrendering to the FBI on felony charges stemming from his disobedience of a congressional investigation into the deadly January 6 riot in the US Capitol.

Mr. Bannon appeared before Magistrate Judge Robin Meriweather after a federal grand jury indicted him on Friday on two counts of contempt of Congress. He handed himself up hours earlier at a Washington FBI field office, escorted by bodyguards and making threatening remarks about Vice President Joe Biden.

"We're bringing down the Biden regime," Mr. Bannon told a swarm of reporters.

Mr. Bannon addressed his fans directly via a camera live-streaming on the social media platform GETTR, which Trump associate Jason Miller founded. "I want you to stay focused," Mr. Bannon said, wearing an olive-green coat over black clothing and flanked by bodyguards clad in black, including black face masks. Behind him, a demonstrator held a sign that said "Coup Plotter."

"This is all nonsense," Mr. Bannon concluded, promoting his program in the process.

Mr. Bannon was charged with one count of contempt for failing to attend a deposition before the US House of Representatives Select Committee examining the events surrounding the January 6 attack and another for refusing to deliver documents.

Contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum jail sentence of one year.

Mr. Bannon is one of more than 30 people close to Mr. Trump. They have been summoned to testify before the House committee about the events leading up to January 6, when a mob of the former president's supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to prevent the formal certification of his election loss to Mr. Biden.