Steve Bannon, the former advisor to Donald Trump, was released from a federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut, on Tuesday after serving a four-month sentence for contempt of Congress. His release comes just one week before the crucial midterm elections, amplifying his influence in the political landscape as he resumes his role as a vocal proponent of Trump.
Bannon, 70, had surrendered to prison on July 1 after the U.S. Supreme Court denied his request to delay his sentence while appealing the contempt conviction. Upon his release around 3:15 a.m. local time, he declared, “I’m not broken, I’m empowered.” He quickly returned to the political arena, suggesting that post-election turmoil is imminent. “If people think American politics has been divisive before, you haven’t seen anything,” Bannon stated.
Reflecting on his time in prison, Bannon expressed that his willingness to serve time for defying a congressional subpoena was “1,000%” justified. He emphasized his commitment to fighting for what he believes in, stating, “If you’re not prepared to go to prison to fight for your country, you’re not prepared to fight for your country.”
Bannon’s conviction in July 2022 stemmed from his refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack. Federal prosecutors argued that Bannon believed he was “above the law” by ignoring the committee’s requests for documents and testimony regarding his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Bannon has consistently claimed that the charges against him were politically motivated, aligning with Trump’s allegations of a Democratic conspiracy against him.
His attorney, David Schoen, asserted that the case raised significant constitutional issues warranting Supreme Court review. Schoen also contended that Bannon should not apologize for his actions, maintaining that no American should be held accountable for standing firm in such circumstances.
Following his release, Bannon wasted no time in diving back into political discourse. During a live broadcast of his War Room podcast, he propagated conspiracy theories surrounding the upcoming elections. In a press conference just hours after his release, he criticized prominent figures, including Nancy Pelosi and Attorney General Merrick Garland, reiterating his claim of being a “political prisoner.”
Bannon described the justice system as “broken” and alleged that the Department of Justice is being used to target Trump supporters while undermining his popular podcast. He shared anecdotes from his time in prison, claiming to have engaged with “working-class minorities” and indicating a desire to connect with diverse communities, despite past criticisms related to his political rhetoric.
In his remarks, Bannon warned of potential election fraud, repeating the unfounded assertion that the 2020 election was stolen. He claimed that efforts to nullify Trump’s anticipated victory in the next election would be met with strong resistance from his supporters.
At one point during a Q&A session, a person posing as a comedian interrupted with a question about the next insurrection, which led to their removal from the event.
Bannon still faces legal challenges at the state level in New York, where he is accused of deceiving donors who contributed to the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. He maintains his innocence, with a trial in this case scheduled for December.
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