DANBURY, Conn. (AP) Longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon was taken into custody Monday after surrendering at a federal prison to begin a four-month sentence on contempt charges for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the U.S. Capitol attack .

Bannon arrived at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, around noon and was formally taken into federal custody, the Bureau of Prisons said.

Speaking to reporters, Bannon called himself a political prisoner, said former President Donald Trump was very supportive of him and slammed Democrats , including Attorney General Merrick Garland.

I am proud of going to prison, Bannon said, adding he was standing up to the Garland corrupt DOJ.

Shortly before he arrived to surrender, a small group of supporters gathered on the side of the road outside the prison. They cheered as Bannon and GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia spoke during a news conference, holding up flags and signs supporting Bannon as a small group of protesters shouted, Lock him up! and traitor!

The crowd was rowdy, often breaking into chants of, USA! A supporter of President Joe Biden taunted Bannon by yelling traitor while Trump supporters tried to shout her down. Police had to stop traffic to allow the black SUV that Bannon was riding in to pull out of a church parking lot where Bannons supporters had gathered.