Trump ally Steve Bannon released after four months in prison for contempt of Congress

DANBURY, Conn. — Longtime Donald Trump ally Steve Bannon was released from prison early Tuesday after serving a four-month sentence for ignoring a subpoena during Congress’ investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Bannon left the federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, according to Christy Breshears, a spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He planned to hold a news conference later that day in Manhattan, his representatives said. He is also expected to resume work on his podcast on Tuesday.

Bannon, 70, reported to prison July 1 after the Supreme Court denied his request to delay his sentence while he appeals his conviction.

In 2022, a jury found Bannon guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress: one for refusing to testify before a House committee on Jan. 6, and a second for refusing to turn over documents related to his involvement in Trump’s efforts to overturn his loss to Joe. Biden in the 2020 presidential race.

When Bannon began serving his sentence in July, he called himself a “political prisoner.”

“I’m proud to go to prison,” he said at the time, adding that he was defending Attorney General Merrick Garland and the “corrupt” Justice Department.

Trump, a Republican, is seeking to reclaim the presidency in next week’s election against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

In May, a federal appeals court panel upheld Bannon’s conviction. Bannon is now asking the full appeals court to hear his case. His legal team argued that the congressional subpoena was invalid because Trump asserted executive privilege. But prosecutors say Bannon left the White House years ago and Trump never invoked executive privilege before the committee.