Steve Bannon, Donald Trump’s former top advisor, has reported to a federal prison to begin a four-month sentence for contempt of Congress after defying a subpoena from the January 6 Select Committee.
Bannon, who also hosts the War Room podcast, reported to the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut on Monday. In his final edition of the podcast before starting his sentence, he said he was a “political prisoner.”
I’m a political prisoner of Nancy Pelosi. I’m a political prisoner of Merrick Garland. I’m a political prisoner of Joe Biden and the corrupt Biden establishment.
Bannon had to begin serving time after the Supreme Court denied his request to remain out of prison until the outcome of his appeal in the case was known. He was convicted in July 2022 for refusing to appear before the committee investigating the 6th January, 2021 invasion of the U.S. Capitol. Bannon claims that conversations he had with the president that day should be protected under executive privilege.
Speaking outside the prison on Monday, Bannon said “I’m proud of going to prison today.”
“I have not only no regrets, I’m proud of what I did,” he added.
Speaking to the BBC, he said he was unconcerned about being behind bars during Trump’s campaign. He said there is a “MAGA army” ready to sweep the former president back into the White House.
“I’ve served my country now for the last 10 or so years focusing on this,” he said, referring to his political and media work. “If I have to do it in a prison, I do it in a prison—it makes no difference at all.”
Bannon is the second official from the Trump administration to receive a four-month prison sentence. Former White House adviser Peter Navarro began a sentence in March this year after also being held in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the January 6 Select Committee.
