Steve Bannon, former advisor to Donald Trump and a key figure in the MAGA movement, was released from federal prison on Tuesday after serving a four-month sentence for contempt of Congress. The 70-year-old conservative podcast host wasted no time in resuming his political commentary, appearing on his “War Room” podcast shortly after his release.
Bannon was convicted in 2022 for defying a congressional subpoena related to the January 6 Capitol riot investigation. He refused to testify before the House select committee and failed to provide requested documents. Despite attempts to appeal his conviction, including a last-minute plea to the Supreme Court, Bannon ultimately reported to the federal correctional facility in Danbury, Connecticut, in June.
Upon his release, Steve Bannon claimed that his time in prison had empowered rather than broken him. “I’m more energized and more focused than I’ve ever been in my entire life,” he stated on his podcast. He continued to frame himself as a “political prisoner,” a stance he maintained before entering prison.
Bannon immediately dove back into political discourse, making controversial statements about the upcoming presidential election. He warned his followers about potential imprisonment, stating, “If you’re not prepared to be sent to a federal prison as a political prisoner, then you’re not worthy to be in this movement.”
The former Trump advisor also made unsubstantiated claims about the election, echoing his pre-imprisonment rhetoric. In an interview with The New York Times, Bannon suggested that Trump should declare victory on Election Day if early vote counts indicate he is ahead, even if all the ballots haven’t been counted yet. This would be similar to what occurred in the previous election.
Steve Bannon’s release comes just a week before the presidential election, and recent polls from the New York Times indicate a closely contested race between Trump and Harris in crucial battleground states. The podcast host has expressed confidence in the MAGA movement’s growth, claiming a “wide swath of African American men and Hispanic men” would help Trump win in the November 5 election.
Despite his release, Bannon still faces charges in New York state for alleged money laundering, fraud, and conspiracy related to a border wall fundraising campaign. Steve Bannon has pleaded not guilty to these charges.
