Steve Bannon, a top ally of former President Donald Trump, left Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut early Tuesday morning after serving four months for defying a Democrat-led January 6 congressional committee subpoena.
“I’m not broken, I’m empowered,” Bannon told the New York Times’ Jeremey Peters immediately after his release.
Bannon’s daughter Maureen greeted him outside the prison. Bureau of Prisons spokesperson Kristie Breshears confirmed the release.
“Steve Bannon is a Free Man,” War Room co-host Natalie Winters posted on X.
Bannon, 70, reported to prison July 1 after the Supreme Court rejected his bid to delay the sentence. A jury found him guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress in 2022: one for refusing to testify and another for refusing to provide documents related to Trump’s efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 election.
“This is about shutting down the MAGA movement, shutting down grassroots conservatives, shutting down President Trump,” Bannon said in June.
“Not only are we winning, we are going to prevail, and every number and every poll shows that. There’s nothing that can shut me up and nothing that will shut me up. There’s not a prison built or a jail built that will ever shut me up. All victory to MAGA.”
Before entering prison in July, Bannon called himself a “political prisoner” and said, “I am proud of going to prison,” while criticizing Attorney General Merrick Garland and what he called a “corrupt” Justice Department.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-G.A., posted, “Let’s win this election and defeat these communists!!”
Bannon faces additional criminal charges in New York state court over alleged border wall fundraising fraud. His trial begins December 9 on charges including money laundering, conspiracy and fraud involving $15 million in donations. He pleaded not guilty.
Bannon plans to resume his War Room podcast Tuesday and hold a Manhattan press conference.