Conflicting Information from Media Reports on Release Date, Clarified on Monday by CNN
After days of conflicting media reports about Steve Bannon’s release date, CNN issued a clarifying statement. According to the Bureau of Prisons, Bannon’s release date is October 29, 2024. This remains unchanged despite his attempts for an earlier release under the First Step Act.
The good news is that Bannon will be out soon. The bad news is that he was denied an opportunity to be out sooner.
First Step Act Denial: Political Interference Speculated
As WarRoom reported last week, Bannon’s legal team sought his early release, when he had 75 days left of confinement, under the 2018 Trump-era First Step Act, which provides leniency for some federal offenders, including potential home confinement. However, Bannon’s request was denied and only explained to him recently, leaving the timing for the denial highly suspicious.
With only 10 days left to his sentence as of last Friday, Bannon was told that he does not have the 30 days left the Warden needs to qualify Bannon for a transfer to home confinement.
The acting warden of FCI Danbury, Derek Puzio, stated that Bannon had "insufficient time on his sentence” to qualify for home confinement under the Act. Bannon would need at least 30 days remaining on his sentence to be eligible, while he only has 8 as of Monday.
That is very strange. They had not addressed the request made for an August release- which doesn’t leave them enough time to address the issue now because he will be out soon. That is convenient if you want to keep him locked up, and Bannon is understandably frustrated over this lack of respect for the First Step Act.
Many Bannon supporters speculate that the late denial is politically motivated. As reported by National Pulse, Bannon accused the Biden-Harris administration of "political interference,” keeping him away from his influential position in the weeks leading up to the November 2024 election. Maureen Bannon, Steve Bannon’s daughter, expressed her frustration.
Again, Bannon’s release date is still Oct. 29th. However, this does not diminish the injustice of Bannon’s being denied early release, a significant issue that will most likely be revised again when Bannon is free.
The point is that the Democrats are once again using their control of courts and prisons, exploiting lawfare to punish their political opponents by slow-rolling the First Step Act. This is paramount for voters to understand.
This move to deny Steve Bannon the freedom he is legally entitled to shows the priority that Democrats have for prison reforms in general, and it also shows their regard for the family members of prisoners, who are legally entitled to have their loved one home, for good behavior, under a congressionally approved law.
Maureen Bannon Speaks Out on WarRoom
On Monday, in the video below, Maureen Bannon appeared on her father’s “WarRoom” podcast to confirm that Steve Bannon is still scheduled for release on “August 29” (she meant October 29, 2024).
She repeated her belief that political interests could influence the decision to deny his early release, as Bannon’s release would coincide with a critical time in the election season.
CNN’s Report on the Bureau of Prisons’ Decision
CNN reported that Bannon’s release will come after serving his full 120-day sentence for contempt of Congress. The Bureau of Prisons had considered home confinement, but officials ruled out the possibility due to time constraints. "Mr. Bannon has insufficient time on his sentence to process a referral and secure approval for ten days of home confinement placement,” wrote Derek Puzio in a letter obtained by CNN.
Fans are reminded to keep their eyes on the WarRoom program for Bannon’s imminent return.
For more of our coverage of Bannon’s First Step Act request:
Steve Bannon Unleased: ‘Kamala Harris is Illegally Holding Me Prisoner to Sabotage the Election!’
For more context from Maureen Bannon, who appeared on WarRoom with details:
