Steve Bannon has been released from a Connecticut federal prison after serving four months for contempt of Congress related to the January 6th congressional committee. His release took place early Tuesday, and Natalie Winters, co-host of Bannon’s “War Room” podcast, announced on X just after 6 a.m., “Steve Bannon is a Free Man.”
The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed that Bannon, 70, was freed from the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, where he had been incarcerated since July 1. He was seen leaving the facility with his daughter, Maureen. A representative for Bannon stated that he would hold a news conference later in Manhattan.
Bannon’s release comes just a week before the 2024 elections. The longtime ally of Donald Trump was convicted on two counts of contempt of Congress: one for refusing to testify before the January 6th committee and another for not providing requested documents. Although he was sentenced in October 2022, a U.S. district judge delayed the jail term while Bannon appealed the ruling. A federal appeals court panel upheld his convictions in May.
Despite having served his sentence, Bannon plans to continue appealing his conviction. When he began his sentence in July, he referred to himself as a “political prisoner” and expressed pride in his incarceration. He criticized Attorney General Merrick Garland and the “corrupt” Justice Department prior to his surrender.
In addition to his federal issues, Bannon faces further criminal charges in New York state, where he is accused of defrauding donors who contributed to a campaign to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. His trial for this alleged $15 million fundraising scheme is set to begin on December 9, and he has pleaded not guilty to charges of money laundering, conspiracy, and fraud.
