Trump ally Steve Bannon freed from jail ahead of election

Long-time Donald Trump ally Steve Bannon has been released from prison early, after serving a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the US Capitol attack on 6 January 2021.

Bannon left the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, according to Kristie Breshears, a spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

He plans to hold a news conference later in Manhattan, his representatives said.

He is also expected to resume his podcast.

Bannon, 70, reported to the prison on 1 July after the Supreme Court rejected his bid to delay the prison sentence while he appeals his conviction.

A jury found Bannon guilty in 2022 of two counts of contempt of Congress.

A count for refusing to sit for a deposition with the 6 January House Committee and a second for refusing to provide documents related to his involvement in Mr Trump's efforts to overturn his loss to President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race.

When he began serving his sentence in July, Bannon called himself a "political prisoner".

"I am proud of going to prison," he said at the time, adding that he was standing up to Attorney General Merrick Garland and a "corrupt" Justice Department.

Mr Trump, a Republican, is seeking to regain the presidency in next week’s election against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

A federal appeals court panel upheld Bannon’s convictions in May.

Bannon is asking the full appeals court to hear his case.

His legal team had argued that the congressional subpoena was invalid because Mr Trump had asserted executive privilege.

However, prosecutors said Bannon had left the White House years before and Mr Trump had never invoked executive privilege in front of the committee.

Bannon faces additional criminal charges in New York state court, alleging he duped donors who gave money to build a wall along the US-Mexico border.

Bannon has pleaded not guilty to money laundering, conspiracy, fraud and other charges.

A trial in that case is scheduled to begin in December.