Steve Bannon, a prominent conservative strategist and long-time ally of President Donald Trump, is set to face a state conspiracy trial in New York next month, pending any delays from an upcoming hearing. This development follows Bannon’s recent release after serving a four-month prison sentence for contempt of Congress. The trial, scheduled for December 9, will address charges of conspiracy and money laundering connected to fundraising efforts for a U.S.-Mexico border wall.
Bannon, 70, addressed the media outside the New York court on Tuesday, cryptically stating, “You wait. The hunted are about to become the hunters,” before departing without further elaboration on his comments. His legal team is contesting the charges, claiming that any funds Bannon received were legitimate reimbursements for expenses incurred while assisting with the wall-building initiative, of which he chaired the advisory board.
The accusations against Bannon stem from his involvement with WeBuildTheWall Inc., a nonprofit organization that solicited donations with the promise that all contributions would be directed toward building the border wall. Prosecutors allege that instead, Bannon orchestrated payments amounting to at least $140,000 to the organization’s president as an undisclosed salary. While the indictment primarily accuses Bannon of facilitating these payments, it also notes that a portion of the nonprofit’s funds was used to pay Bannon’s personal credit card bills.
Prosecutor Jeffrey Levinson argues that Bannon utilized the nonprofit’s funds to advance his political objectives. In contrast, Bannon’s defense attorney, John Carman, claims the funds in question were legitimate reimbursements for Bannon’s travel expenses related to the project. Carman has requested a delay in the trial to allow the defense time to prepare expert witnesses to counter the financial evidence prosecutors intend to present.
The case is being pursued by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both of whom are Democrats. Notably, these state charges are immune to presidential pardons, unlike the previous federal charges related to the same scheme from which Trump pardoned Bannon in 2021 during the final hours of his presidency.
This state trial will take place in the same Manhattan courthouse as the legal proceedings involving Donald Trump related to hush money payments. A recent decision in that case has been postponed, as prosecutors evaluate their strategy in light of Trump’s upcoming presidency.
Bannon’s ongoing legal challenges also include appealing a conviction for contempt of Congress after he failed to comply with a subpoena demanding his testimony and documents related to the January 6 Capitol riot investigation. Following his release from federal prison in Connecticut, Bannon continues to maintain his stance, previously describing himself as a “political prisoner.”
This trial marks another chapter in the unfolding legal sagas entwining Steve Bannon and Donald Trump, amidst ongoing political and legal upheavals.
Source: Noah Wire Services