Steve Bannon released after 4 months for contempt of Congress

In the United States, Steve Bannon, a well-known ally of former President Donald Trump, is set to be released from Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, after completing a four-month prison sentence. His imprisonment stemmed from defying a subpoena related to the congressional inquiry into the January 6 Capitol riot. On July 1, 2023, he reported to prison following the Supreme Court's refusal to allow him to delay his sentence while appealing his conviction, which was upheld by a federal appeals court in May 2024. Bannon was convicted on two counts of contempt of Congress—one for failing to testify and another for not submitting documents regarding his actions during the Trump administration's efforts to contest the 2020 presidential election. He has characterized his punishment as politically motivated, referring to himself as a 'political prisoner' and has criticized the Justice Department’s actions against him, claiming they are corrupt. Following his release, Bannon plans to hold a news conference in Manhattan and resume hosting his podcast, which may allow him to further amplify his views regarding the political landscape and ongoing challenges faced in the aftermath of his legal battles. This move comes at a pivotal time as Trump is campaigning to regain the presidency against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election. As Bannon navigates his post-prison life, his ongoing legal struggles persist, with appeals regarding the congressional subpoena still in process, raising questions about executive privilege claims made by Trump during the investigation into January 6.