Steve Bannon, a former adviser to Donald Trump, is set to face trial in December over allegations of involvement in a fundraising scheme tied to the U.S.-Mexico border wall. This trial is separate from his current four-month prison sentence for contempt of Congress after refusing a subpoena related to the January 6th Capitol riot, as reported by New York Day News.
In this unrelated Manhattan case, the 70-year-old Bannon is accused of misappropriating hundreds of thousands of dollars donated by Trump supporters for the border wall, channeling the funds to a convicted accomplice while publicly claiming all donations would go toward construction.
During a brief hearing, Manhattan district attorney’s office prosecutors indicated to State Supreme Court Judge April Newbauer that they expect their testimony to last about four days, while Bannon’s defense estimated their case would take two days. Newbauer is set to rule next month on Bannon’s motion to dismiss the case.
Although Bannon was excused from appearing at the hearing, he faces a potentially longer prison term if convicted, with the top count carrying a maximum of 15 years. Bannon is expected to be released from a federal facility in Danbury, Conn., on Halloween, about a month before the December 9 trial and just days before the presidential election.
Bannon had previously been pardoned by Trump on similar federal charges in the final hours of Trump’s presidency. However, if Bannon is convicted in this state case, a presidential pardon will not be possible, even if Trump wins the upcoming election.
Three other men charged alongside Bannon in 2020, including military veteran Brian Kolfage, did not receive pardons and were all convicted. The Manhattan DA alleges Bannon funneled over $100,000 to Kolfage, who, along with Andrew Badolato, pleaded guilty to their roles in April 2022. Colorado businessman Timothy Shea was convicted by a jury at a retrial in October after his first trial ended with a hung jury.
Kolfage was sentenced to over four years in prison, Badolato received around three years, and Shea was sentenced to just over five years.
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