Former White House strategist Steve Bannon avoids jail time after pleading guilty to a fraud charge related to the 'We Build the Wall' campaign, which aimed to raise funds for a privately funded border wall.
Steve Bannon , the former White House strategist, pleaded guilty to a charge of fraud related to his involvement in a private fundraising campaign to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. As part of a plea agreement, Bannon, 71, avoided jail time and received a three-year conditional discharge. This means that if Bannon remains out of legal trouble during the next three years, he will not face further punishment.
Bannon's case was scheduled to go to trial on March 4th but was resolved with the plea deal. This development comes after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered the Department of Justice to investigate what President Donald Trump referred to as the 'weaponization of prosecutorial power.'Leaving the courtroom, Bannon expressed feeling 'Like a million bucks,' according to the Associated Press. His defense attorney, Arthur Aidala, characterized the case against Bannon as 'flimsy,' stating that it was 'never about his client.' Aidala emphasized Bannon's willingness to fight, saying, 'Mr. Bannon deserves credit. He wants to fight. Everyone knows Steve Bannon, he always wants to put up a fight.' Following his plea, Bannon called for an investigation into New York Attorney General Leticia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, urging Attorney General Bondi to take action. Bannon's current legal troubles stem from allegations that he misled donors who contributed to the 'We Build the Wall' campaign. Prosecutors claimed that Bannon and others involved in the campaign falsely promised that all donations would be used to construct the wall. Instead, they allege that the funds were diverted for personal enrichment. The campaign, launched in 2018 after Trump fired Bannon as his chief strategist, raised over $20 million and managed to privately build a few miles of fencing along the border. However, the project faced issues with the International Boundary and Water Commission, underwent federal investigation, and received criticism from Trump himself. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg initiated the case after Trump pardoned Bannon in 2021, which erased federal charges related to the same allegations. In a separate incident, Bannon served a four-month prison sentence in 2024 for contempt of Congress after defying a subpoena related to the investigation into the January 6th, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol
Steve Bannon Fraud We Build The Wall Border Wall Donald Trump Pardon Prosecutorial Power
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Steve Bannon Avoids Jail Time in We Build the Wall Fraud CaseSteve Bannon, former advisor to President Trump, pleaded guilty to defrauding donors to the 'We Build the Wall' campaign. He will avoid prison time and receive a three-year conditional discharge.
Read more »
Steve Bannon Avoids Jail Time After Pleading Guilty to Defrauding 'We Build the Wall' DonorsSteve Bannon, a former close confidante of President Trump, pleaded guilty to defrauding donors to the 'We Build the Wall' fundraising campaign. In exchange for his plea, Bannon will receive a three-year conditional discharge, avoiding prison time. He admitted to scheming to defraud multiple donors who believed their contributions would be solely used for constructing a wall along the US-Mexico border. Prosecutors revealed that Bannon secretly funneled money to Brian Kolfage, the president of 'We Build the Wall', in violation of public assurances that Kolfage would not receive any compensation.
Read more »
Steve Bannon Pleads Guilty to Defrauding 'We Build the Wall' DonorsSteve Bannon, a former top White House strategist, pleaded guilty to state charges related to defrauding donors to 'We Build the Wall,' a nonprofit organization aiming to construct a border wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. He will not serve prison time under a plea agreement that includes restrictions on his future nonprofit activities.
Read more »
Steve Bannon Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges in 'We Build the Wall' CaseSteve Bannon, a former White House strategist and ally of Donald Trump, pleaded guilty to fraud charges related to his involvement in a private fundraising effort for a border wall. The plea deal avoids jail time for Bannon, but he faces restrictions on his future fundraising activities.
Read more »
Steve Bannon Admits to Defrauding 'We Build the Wall' Donors, Avoids PrisonSteve Bannon, former White House chief strategist for President Trump, pleaded guilty to defrauding donors to his 'We Build the Wall' online fundraiser. As part of the plea deal, he received a three-year conditional discharge and will not serve any prison time or pay restitution. This is Bannon's second felony conviction, following a 2022 conviction for contempt of Congress.
Read more »
Steve Bannon Pleads Guilty in 'We Build the Wall' SchemeSteve Bannon pleaded guilty to a fraud charge related to the 'We Build the Wall' campaign, admitting to duping donors who contributed to the effort. He received a three-year conditional discharge and is barred from fundraising for or serving in any fiduciary position for charitable organizations in New York state.
Read more »