Former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon and three co-defendants are scheduled to stand trial in May over charges that they scammed hundreds of thousands of donors into contributing to a fundraising campaign purportedly to build a private U.S.-Mexico border wall.
U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in Manhattan on Monday announced a May 24 start date for the criminal trial after federal prosecutors earlier this month revealed charges stemming from the “We Build The Wall” project, which raised more than $25 million.
Bannon and co-defendant Brian Kolfage, an Air Force combat veteran, used hundreds of thousands of dollars from the fund for personal expenses, according to prosecutors.
Bannon and Kolfage, along with co-defendants Andrew Badolato and Timothy Shea, face charges that include conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, each of which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Bannon, who also served as chief executive of President Trump
Donald John TrumpBirx says she’s hopeful about coronavirus vaccine but urges people to ‘do the right thing today’ McGahn argued Kushner’s security clearance should be downgraded: book Wisconsin governor urges Trump not to visit Kenosha: ‘I am concerned your presence will only hinder our healing’ MORE‘s campaign in 2016, is the latest member of the president’s inner circle to face criminal charges.
Former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about his communications with a Russian diplomat. He has since backed out of a plea agreement, and the Department of Justice is seeking to withdraw its case against him.
Paul Manafort
Paul John ManafortConspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention Ukraine language in GOP platform underscores Trump tensions Republicans incriminate Trump, decimate his ‘Russia hoax’ narrative MORE, Trump’s former campaign chairman, is serving more than seven years in prison on an array of bank and tax fraud charges.
And Trump commuted the nearly 3 1/2 year prison sentence of his former adviser Roger Stone
Roger Jason StoneComey: Trump, Barr damaged Justice Department Republicans incriminate Trump, decimate his ‘Russia hoax’ narrative House Democrat to DeJoy: ‘Is your backup plan to be pardoned like Roger Stone?’ MORE in July, just days before Stone was scheduled to report to a federal corrections facility.
Harper Neidig contributed to this report. Updated at 2:48 p.m.
