Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon entered a guilty plea on Tuesday to a fraud charge related to a private border wall fundraising campaign. As part of a plea deal, Bannon received a three-year conditional discharge, avoiding jail time provided he adheres to the agreement's terms. Upon exiting the courtroom, Bannon told reporters he felt "great." His legal counsel argued that a fair trial would have been impossible for his client.
The plea agreement stipulates that Bannon is prohibited from fundraising or holding any fiduciary role in New York-based charities. He is also restricted from utilizing donor data obtained through the "We Build the Wall" initiative. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg commended the agreement, emphasizing its role in safeguarding charitable organizations and donations from fraudulent activities.
Bannon, 71, initially pleaded not guilty in 2022 to state charges including money laundering, fraud, and conspiracy. Prosecutors alleged that Bannon and others misrepresented how donations to the "We Build the Wall" campaign would be used, enriching themselves instead of funding the border wall. Despite receiving a presidential pardon from Trump in 2021 on related federal charges, Bragg pursued the case in state court.
Following his plea, Bannon publicly called for a criminal investigation into Bragg and New York Attorney General Leticia James. This plea agreement comes shortly after Attorney General Pam Bondi initiated a Justice Department investigation into potential political motivations behind certain prosecutions, including Bragg's case against Trump.
