Steve Bannon, the former Donald Trump White House strategist, is scheduled to report to a federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut, on Monday to begin a four-month sentence for defying a congressional subpoena. Bannon will become the second former Trump aide to be imprisoned for a contempt of Congress conviction after Peter Navarro began serving a four-month sentence earlier this year. Both men were convicted for not complying with subpoenas issued to them by the now-defunct House Select Committee that investigated the events of January 6, 2021.
The Supreme Court on Friday denied a long-shot effort by Bannon to avoid reporting to prison while he challenges his conviction before the federal appeals court in Washington, DC. Bannon has maintained that he was following advice from his attorneys by not responding to the subpoena until lawmakers resolved Trump’s claims of executive privilege. Courts did not permit him to present this argument to the jury that determined his case.
Despite his upcoming prison sentence, Bannon has continued to show unwavering support for Trump and his presidential reelection bid. He made unsuccessful attempts to convince Trump to skip the CNN presidential debate last week and has remained active in hosting his far-right podcast. Bannon has also expressed intentions to seek revenge on his political enemies and has criticized the current leadership of the Justice Department during his broadcasts.
While Bannon has projected an image of confidence and nonchalance about his impending prison term, sources close to him have indicated that he has shown signs of apprehension and uncertainty. Danbury, where Bannon will be incarcerated, has a relatively small prison population of male and female inmates, with a mix of white-collar criminals, violent offenders, and sex offenders.
Inmates at Danbury do not have access to the Internet and can only send emails without attachments, which are monitored and subject to a delay. They also have limited phone usage, with a set amount of minutes per month that cannot be replenished once exhausted. Bannon, who boasted about the resilience of his media platform in his absence, faces a stark contrast to his previous broadcasting capabilities.
Bannon is expected to undergo an intake process upon his arrival at the prison on Monday, including passing through a metal detector, undergoing a strip search, and participating in a mental health evaluation. He will then be assigned to a housing unit, provided with a bedroll, and left to adjust to the new reality of life behind bars. Despite any potential letters of support from his fans, Bannon has made it clear that he will not be reading them, urging supporters to focus on the campaign instead.
