Attorneys for Steve Bannon have requested the pundit be released on bail, or given a supervised released, while his petition to the D.C. Circuit Court is resolved.
In June, Bannon, who served as an advisor to former President Donald Trump, was ordered to report to prison on July 1. The War Room host was sentenced to four months in federal prison after he was convicted on two counts of contempt after refusing to comply with a Congressional subpoena from the Jan. 6 Committee.
House Republicans tried to prevent Bannon from going to prison by submitting an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court invalidating his prosecution. The request was denied with a one-sentence order issued by SCOTUS on June 28.
Though a D.C. appeals court panel upheld Bannon’s conviction in May, his counsel has filed an en banc petition, which requires the full court, rather than a three-judge panel, to provide a broader review his case.
“This Court need not wait to see whether the D.C Circuit grants en banc or issues dissents from denial,” Bannon’s counsel wrote in an 11-page filing on Thursday. “It is sufficient that a judge of the original panel has now expressed concerns, and that the timing of the proceeding confirms the D.C. Circuit itself is now apparently strongly considering granting en banc … or issuing dissents.”
“The Court should reimpose its order granting bail pending appeal, so Mr. Bannon is not forced to serve his entire sentence before the en banc D.C. Circuit or Supreme Court … can hear his case on the merits,” the filing states.
Bannon’s attorneys said that if the court does not reimpose bail, it “should alternatively impose a period of supervised release.”
Under a federal law called the First Step Act, the filing argues that Bennon’s overall sentence could be reduced and a supervised release could be imposed.
“[This is] something that is available to most inmates, especially those serving sentences for non-violent offenses,” the attorneys wrote. Steve Bannon's lawyers have filed a request for Steve to be released on bond pending resolution of his D.C. Circuit en banc petition and eventual Supreme Court cert. petition, if needed.
The D.C. Circuit should grant this relief and not effectively require Steve to serve out the… pic.twitter.com/O0IfCpDTE8
— Jeff Clark (@JeffClarkUS) August 29, 2024
Before turning himself in at the Federal Correction Institution in Danbury, Connecticut last month, Bannon hosted a final episode of his program War Room from a location “just down the road” from the prison, he said.
During the broadcast, Bannon, who introduced himself as "federal prisoner 05635509," said that the program would continue with 10 to 20 rotating guests hosting in his absence.
Bannon also addressed his impending incarceration on his show on June 30.
“I’m excited,” said the 70-year-old. “I don’t give two f---s about going to Danbury prison, OK? Here’s what I give a f--- about – we are going to take down [Attorney General] Merrick Garland and [Deputy Attorney General] Lisa Monaco and the corrupt DOJ and the FBI and all of it.”
“I could care less,” he added. “I am excited because MAGA is going to let out a roar tonight and tomorrow and the next day … and burn it all down until we get to November 5th where President Trump is going to win in a landslide.”
