And the wonder why we think they're a bunch of simps falling for a grifter and his crew. Who was the Mensa candidate that proudly spoke of giving money to this on HORT? He had hawKEY or something like that in his name? Man, I love Iowayans / HORT!
New YorkCNN —
Conservative firebrand Steve Bannon pleaded guilty to defrauding donors in a fundraising effort to build a wall along the southern US border in a deal that allowed him to avoid prison.
Bannon pleaded guilty to one state felony count of a scheme to defraud in the first degree and was sentenced to a three-year conditional discharge. He will not serve any time in prison, nor will he be required to pay any restitution under the deal.
Prosecutor Jeffrey Levinson said there is no restitution because Bannon’s co-defendants in a related federal case already returned millions of dollars to victims.
Bannon spoke briefly in court answering the judge’s questions.
“Yes, your honor,” he said when asked if he engaged in the scheme to which he was pleading guilty.
Prosecutors fought to stop recent efforts to delay the trial, which was scheduled to start on March 4. It also marks a second felony conviction for Bannon, who was found guilty of contempt of Congress. He served four months in federal prison and was released in November.
Bannon, a former chief strategist to President Donald Trump, was indicted in 2022 on state charges of money laundering, conspiracy and fraud related to an online fundraising scheme called “We Build the Wall” that solicitated donations on the premise of building a wall along the US-Mexico border. Prosecutors say Bannon and others raised over $15 million by falsely claiming that none of the money would be used to pay the salary of one of the founders.
Bannon was first indicted on federal charges in 2020 along with others involved in the fundraising effort. Trump pardoned Bannon before leaving office in 2021 and the Manhattan district attorney’s office, led by Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, launched its own investigation.
A guilty plea marks Bannon’s second criminal conviction. He was found guilty of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena related to an investigation into the events of January 6. Bannon served four months in federal prison.
Last month, Bannon brought on a new lawyer, Arthur Aidala, a New York criminal defense attorney who also represents Harvey Weinstein.
Bannon told the judge at the hearing that he retained Aidala to take a more aggressive stance at the trial.
“I’ve been smeared by a political prosecution, persecution for years. In going to trial, I need to be more aggressive. We’ll use every tool in the toolbox to fight this,” Bannon said at the time.
As part of his three-year conditional discharge, Bannon is banned from serving as an officer or director of any charitable organizations or nonprofits with assets in New York or access “We Build the Wall” donor names.
New YorkCNN —
Conservative firebrand Steve Bannon pleaded guilty to defrauding donors in a fundraising effort to build a wall along the southern US border in a deal that allowed him to avoid prison.
Bannon pleaded guilty to one state felony count of a scheme to defraud in the first degree and was sentenced to a three-year conditional discharge. He will not serve any time in prison, nor will he be required to pay any restitution under the deal.
Prosecutor Jeffrey Levinson said there is no restitution because Bannon’s co-defendants in a related federal case already returned millions of dollars to victims.
Bannon spoke briefly in court answering the judge’s questions.
“Yes, your honor,” he said when asked if he engaged in the scheme to which he was pleading guilty.
Prosecutors fought to stop recent efforts to delay the trial, which was scheduled to start on March 4. It also marks a second felony conviction for Bannon, who was found guilty of contempt of Congress. He served four months in federal prison and was released in November.
Bannon, a former chief strategist to President Donald Trump, was indicted in 2022 on state charges of money laundering, conspiracy and fraud related to an online fundraising scheme called “We Build the Wall” that solicitated donations on the premise of building a wall along the US-Mexico border. Prosecutors say Bannon and others raised over $15 million by falsely claiming that none of the money would be used to pay the salary of one of the founders.
Bannon was first indicted on federal charges in 2020 along with others involved in the fundraising effort. Trump pardoned Bannon before leaving office in 2021 and the Manhattan district attorney’s office, led by Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, launched its own investigation.
A guilty plea marks Bannon’s second criminal conviction. He was found guilty of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena related to an investigation into the events of January 6. Bannon served four months in federal prison.
Last month, Bannon brought on a new lawyer, Arthur Aidala, a New York criminal defense attorney who also represents Harvey Weinstein.
Bannon told the judge at the hearing that he retained Aidala to take a more aggressive stance at the trial.
“I’ve been smeared by a political prosecution, persecution for years. In going to trial, I need to be more aggressive. We’ll use every tool in the toolbox to fight this,” Bannon said at the time.
As part of his three-year conditional discharge, Bannon is banned from serving as an officer or director of any charitable organizations or nonprofits with assets in New York or access “We Build the Wall” donor names.
