Steve Bannon Faces December Trial: Explosive Fraud Allegations in $25 Million ‘We Build the Wall’ Scheme

Steve Bannon’s Trial for Alleged Fraud in “We Build the Wall” Fundraiser Set for December

Steve Bannon’s trial for alleged fraud in the “We Build the Wall” fundraiser has been rescheduled for December. Initially, Bannon was set to stand trial in May 2024, but the date was postponed.

Background

Bannon, a former Trump adviser, is accused of defrauding donors to the online fundraising campaign, which aimed to privately construct a wall along the US-Mexico border. Prosecutors allege that Bannon concealed his role in diverting funds meant for the wall project, instead using them to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to Brian Kolfage, the president of “We Build the Wall.”

Notable Developments

In April 2023, associates of Bannon were sentenced to prison for their roles in the scheme.
A third defendant, Tim Shea, had a mistrial in June 2023 after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict.
Bannon has denied the allegations, claiming the charges are “phony” and politically motivated.
Upcoming Trial

The December trial date marks a significant development in the case, as Bannon will face prosecution for his alleged role in the fraud. The outcome will depend on the evidence presented and the jury’s verdict.

Details from Recent Hearing

During a brief hearing, prosecutors stated they would take three to four days to present evidence. Defense attorneys expected their case to last two days. Bannon, currently serving a federal prison sentence for contempt of Congress, did not attend the hearing. Prosecutors sought a trial date in November, but the judge set it for December since Bannon will not be released from FCI Danbury until October.

Bannon has pleaded not guilty and requested the court to dismiss the charges in January. The judge will rule on this request in late August.

Allegations Against Bannon

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office alleges that Bannon defrauded donors to the nonprofit “We Build the Wall” by falsely promising that none of the money they donated would be used to pay the salary of the organization’s president, Brian Kolfage. Prosecutors claim Bannon secretly funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to Kolfage through third-party entities. The campaign claimed that “We Build the Wall” would use the money to privately construct the border wall, a central tenet of Trump’s 2016 campaign and his current campaign.

Financial records show Kolfage was paid according to a secret salary arrangement, including an upfront payment of $100,000 and monthly payments of approximately $20,000. Kolfage was sentenced to 51 months in prison in April 2023 for his role in the fundraiser, which generated over $25 million in donations.