Steve Bannon's Early Release Request Denied by Judge

On October 22, a federal judge ordered that Steve Bannon, a former official in the Trump administration, must serve the remainder of his prison sentence. Bannon's request for early release was rejected by U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols.

Judge's Decision on Bannon's Request

Judge Nichols stated in a minute order released by the U.S. District Court in Washington that Bannon's request for relief was unwarranted, whether it was viewed as a motion for reconsideration or not.

Bannon's Sentence and Conviction

Bannon began serving a 4-month sentence at a federal prison in Connecticut on July 1. He was convicted for being in contempt of Congress after he declined to cooperate with a U.S. House of Representatives panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol, based on advice from his lawyer.

Bannon's Appeal and Request for Release

In a motion dated Aug. 29, Bannon, through his attorneys, requested Judge Nichols to order his release. They argued that his appeal, which has been pending since July, should result in a reconsideration of his case or at least one dissent based on historical practice. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected Bannon's appeal of his conviction. This led Bannon to request a rehearing from the full appeals court. His attempts to remain free while the appeal is processed were also denied by the court.

Prosecutors' Stance and Bannon's Lawyers' Arguments

Prosecutors argued against Bannon's release, stating that he had not demonstrated any basis for a change. Bannon's lawyers, however, suggested that even if the court denied the attempt to reinstate bail pending appeal, it should order Bannon's release with supervision. They cited the U.S. Bureau of Prisons' confirmation on Oct. 21 that Bannon has accrued credits under the First Step Act, which are good for 10 days of home confinement. Bannon's attorneys argued that he should not have to wait and waste time he could be spending at home, despite the government's position that Bannon must ask the bureau's director for a sentence reduction before turning to the courts.

Warden's Response and Bannon's Scheduled Release

Darek Puzio, the acting warden at the Federal Correctional Institute in Danbury, informed Bannon's lawyers that there is not enough time left on Bannon's sentence to process an early movement to home confinement. The office overseeing the area where Bannon is serving will not accept placements under 30 days, according to Puzio. Bannon is set to be released on Oct. 29, after serving his full sentence.

Bottom Line

The case of Steve Bannon highlights the complexities of the legal system and the challenges faced by individuals seeking early release from prison. Despite his lawyers' efforts, Bannon's request for early release was denied. What are your thoughts on this matter? Do you think the judge made the right decision? Feel free to share this article with your friends and discuss it. Also, consider signing up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.