Former Trump administration official Steve Bannon could have been released from prison early as a result of a provision that is popular among Democrats who are lenient on crime.
However, the Biden-Harris administration has declined to grant his lawyers’ appeal on the matter.
The First Step Act was enacted by Congress in 2018 with bipartisan support, and it was signed into law by former President Donald Trump the same year.
The Act, which enables specific offenders to petition for early release from prison, is a popular choice among Democrats who wish to free drug dealers and other violent criminals.
Bannon was found to be in contempt of Congress for declining to appear before the Democratic-led committee that was investigating January 6.
The refusal to grant Bannon early release may exacerbate Bannon’s apprehensions that the Department of Justice has been weaponized against conservatives, as Democrats have defied subpoenas without incurring such penalties.
In documents released Monday by a Republican-led congressional committee, lawyers for a subpoenaed witness—the special prosecutor who prosecuted Trump in Georgia—openly informed House Republicans that they had no means of compelling him to testify in full.
They stated that the House lacked a jail and that criminal charges for contempt would be decided by juries in Washington, D.C., where the electorate is overwhelmingly Democratic.
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