Steve Bannon, the right-wing podcaster and former Donald Trump aide, has requested a federal judge to release him from prison early as he continues to challenge his contempt of Congress conviction. Bannon began serving a four-month sentence earlier this summer for defying a congressional subpoena from the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021 US Capitol attack. His current release date is set for October 29.
Bannon's prison sentence was temporarily on hold as he contested his conviction in federal courts in Washington, DC. However, after a three-judge panel of the DC US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against him in May, he was instructed to commence serving his sentence.
Now, Bannon is seeking early release from the federal judge overseeing his trial, citing his pending request for the full DC Circuit to review his challenge to the conviction. His legal team argues that any decision by the full appeals court to reconsider the case would constitute a significant change in circumstances warranting his early release.
If the judge does not grant early release, Bannon's attorneys propose a reduction in his sentence and the imposition of a period of supervised release. Previous attempts by Bannon to avoid imprisonment have been unsuccessful, including appeals to Nichols and the Supreme Court.
Bannon is one of two former Trump associates prosecuted for failing to cooperate with the House January 6 probe. The other, former Trump White House aide Peter Navarro, has already served a four-month prison term for his conviction.
The House panel had sought documents and testimony from Bannon in 2021, highlighting alleged communications between Bannon and Trump before the Capitol attack, as well as Bannon's podcast remarks the day before the riot predicting 'all hell is going to break loose tomorrow.'
