Steve Bannon, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, was released from prison early on Tuesday after serving a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021.
Bannon, who is 70 years old, left the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the federal Bureau of Prisons. He is set to hold a news conference later in the day in Manhattan and is expected to resume his podcast on the same day.
He reported to prison on July 1 after the Supreme Court denied his request to delay the prison sentence while he appeals his conviction. A jury found Bannon guilty in 2022 of two counts of contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with the Jan. 6 House Committee’s deposition and for failing to provide documents related to Trump’s efforts to overturn his loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race.
During his time in prison, Bannon referred to himself as a “political prisoner” and expressed pride in his decision to go to prison. He criticized Attorney General Merrick Garland and the Justice Department, calling them “corrupt.”
Bannon is currently seeking to regain the presidency in the upcoming election against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Despite his convictions being upheld by a federal appeals court panel in May, Bannon is appealing for the full court to hear his case. His legal team argued that the congressional subpoena was invalid because Trump had claimed executive privilege. However, prosecutors stated that Bannon had already left the White House years before and Trump had not invoked executive privilege in front of the committee.
In addition to his recent prison term, Bannon is facing further criminal charges in New York state court for allegedly deceiving donors who contributed money to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. He has pleaded not guilty to charges including money laundering, conspiracy, and fraud. The trial for this case is scheduled to begin in December.
Despite his legal troubles, Bannon remains an influential figure in conservative politics and media. Stay updated on the latest news by joining our newsletter for the most recent updates delivered directly to your inbox.
