The conviction of former Trump adviser Steve Bannon for contempt of Congress marks an important moment — not only in holding him individually accountable, but also in bringing to justice those who plotted to undermine the results of the 2020 presidential election.

This is the first trial involving a member of former President Donald Trump’s inner circle at the time of the former president’s assault on the 2020 election results. And, on Friday, our legal system called Bannon’s bluff after he defied a subpoena to appear before the January 6 House select committee.

Even though Bannon’s conviction is for contempt, rather than for an underlying crime, the principle remains the same. For more than two centuries, America has been a society bound by the rule of law, not the rule of men — and we need to keep it that way.

Bannon’s case was weak from the start. Opening his criminal trial, prosecutor Amanda Vaughn told the jury, “This case is about the defendant thumbing his nose at the orderly process of our government.” Referring to Bannon’s failure to appear before the January 6 committee, she explained: “The defendant didn’t get the date wrong. He didn’t get confused on where to go. He didn’t get stuck on a broken down metro car. He just refused to follow the rules.”