Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon Released From Prison
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – Former U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s ally and chief strategist Steve Bannon was released from a Connecticut federal prison early Tuesday after serving four months in jail for failing to comply with a subpoena by a Congressional committee investigating January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Bannon’s release comes just one week before the November 5 presidential election, with polls suggesting a slight lead for Trump.
He was met by his daughter Maureen early Tuesday morning as he left the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, in the pre-dawn hours.
Bannon, 70, then headed to Manhattan, where he resumed his WarRoom podcast and online show and later held an afternoon news conference.
“I’m finally out of being a political prisoner,” Bannon told reporters, adding that prominent Democrats hoped to break him. “I think you can see today I’m far from broken. I’ve been empowered by my four months in Danbury federal prison.”
Bannon was convicted in 2022 on two counts of contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the House Select Committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
On that day, rioters claiming to be supporters of then–U.S. President Trump sought to keep him in power by occupying the Capitol after what they viewed as fraudulent elections.
PREVENTING CONGRESS
They attempted to prevent a joint session of Congress from counting the Electoral College votes to formalize President-elect Joe Biden’s declared victory.
Sources familiar with the matter said that while in prison, Bannon, who publicly questioned the election outcome, digitally kept in touch with a small group of loyalists, including guest hosts of his WarRoom podcast.
They said he would, in part, discuss the news and politics of the day, including topics he thought about for the show.
He reported to prison on July 1 after the Supreme Court rejected his bid to delay his sentence while he appealed his conviction.
A federal appeals court panel upheld Bannon’s convictions in May, but Bannon now asks the full appeals court to hear his case.
His legal team says the congressional subpoena was invalid because Trump had asserted “executive privilege.”
Prosecutors, though, say Bannon had left the White House years before, and Trump had never invoked executive privilege before the committee.
MORE CHARGES
Bannon faces additional criminal charges in New York state court, alleging he duped donors who gave money to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Bannon has pleaded not guilty to money laundering, conspiracy, fraud, and other charges. A trial in that case is scheduled to begin in December.
He blames Democrats and their agenda for the ongoing prosecutions.
He said former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, “sent” him to prison “to silence” his voice.
His critics say an independent jury convicted him, and a judge sentenced Bannon.