Former Donald Trump ally Steve Bannon was released from federal prison early 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 immediately resumed his support for Trump and urged Republicans to come out in large numbers to defeat Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. He was greeted by a media event in Manhattan, where he declared himself as a “political prisoner” and expressed empowerment from his time in prison.
Bannon claimed that his time in prison was empowering because of the people he met, particularly working-class minorities who shared their views on Harris and the Biden administration’s record on incarceration. He also reiterated his unfounded claim that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump, despite numerous official rejections of mass voter fraud allegations. Bannon said he spoke with Trump on the day of his release, but did not provide details about the conversation. Throughout the day, he continued to criticize Democrats and their agenda on his podcast and online show.
In July, Bannon reported to prison after failing to delay his sentence while appealing his conviction. A jury found him guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress related to his refusal to cooperate with the Jan. 6 House Committee and provide documents regarding his involvement in Trump’s efforts to overturn his election loss to Joe Biden. Despite his legal team’s argument that the congressional subpoena was invalid due to executive privilege claims by Trump, prosecutors maintained that Bannon had left the White House before that privilege was ever invoked.
In addition to his prison sentence, Bannon faces criminal charges in New York state court for allegedly defrauding donors who contributed to a border wall project along the U.S.-Mexico border. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of money laundering, conspiracy, and fraud, and a trial in that case is slated to begin in December. Bannon’s continued support for Trump and his defiance of legal proceedings highlight the ongoing political controversies surrounding the former president’s allies and their actions. Despite his release from prison, Bannon’s legal challenges and political influence remain significant factors in the broader landscape of American politics.
