Former White House strategist Steve Bannon's bid for early release from his four-month prison sentence has been denied despite earning sufficient credits under the First Step Act.
According to Breitbart News, Acting Warden Darek Puzio of the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, cited "insufficient time" as the reason for denying Bannon's request for home confinement.
The denial comes as Bannon, who began serving his sentence in July 2024, had accumulated enough First Step Act (FSA) credits to qualify for early release. The decision has prompted his legal team to seek alternative solutions through court intervention.
Acting Warden Puzio explained the technical barriers preventing Bannon's release in response to the former Trump advisor's attorney.
The prison's regional management office maintains a minimum 30-day placement requirement for home confinement monitoring, making Bannon's earned 10-day credit insufficient for processing.
The First Step Act, implemented during the Trump administration, was designed to improve criminal justice outcomes and reduce federal prison populations. However, bureaucratic requirements have created an obstacle for shorter-term inmates like Bannon.
In response to the denial, Bannon's attorneys, Trent McCotter and Evan Corcoran, filed a motion Monday requesting the court to either reinstate bail or implement supervised release.
The path to Bannon's current incarceration began with his July 2022 conviction for contempt of Congress. The charges stemmed from his failure to comply with a subpoena issued by the Democrat-led January 6 Select Committee.
Acting Warden Puzio stated in his letter to Bannon's attorney:
To date, Mr. Bannon has earned 10 First Step Act ("FSA") time credits. These credits would typically be applied toward early transfer to supervision pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 3624 (g) (3). However, Mr. Bannon does not have a term of supervision following his term of imprisonment. Thus, his 10 FSA time credits can only be applied toward prerelease custody placement in a Residential Reentry Center or on home confinement.
Bannon's legal team responded in their letter:
The government provides no other reason for denying such a release. Accordingly, but for that bureaucratic processing delay, Mr. Bannon presumably would have been released to home confinement two days ago. There is no reason for Mr. Bannon to remain in prison despite earning those credits.
Before his legal troubles, Bannon served as CEO of Trump's 2016 campaign and later as White House chief strategist until August 2017. Following his departure from the White House, he returned to Breitbart News, where he had previously served as executive chairman, before leaving the organization in early 2018.
Currently, Bannon continues to maintain influence through his War Room podcast, even as he serves his prison sentence. His role in conservative media and politics remains significant despite his current incarceration.
Steve Bannon's earned credits for early release have been nullified by bureaucratic requirements within the federal prison system. The denial highlights the complexities of implementing the First Step Act for shorter sentences. The former Trump advisor's legal team continues to pursue alternative paths for his release through court intervention.
