Steve Bannon—Facing New Criminal Indictment In New York—Will Reportedly Hand Himself In Thursday

Topline

Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon is set to surrender on Thursday to New York prosecutors as he is expected to be indicted by the state in a fraud case for which he received a pardon from the former president, according to several reports.

Key Facts

In a development first reported by the Washington Post, the charges against Bannon remain sealed but they are purportedly similar to an earlier federal fraud case against the right-wing ideologue’s crowdfunding efforts to build a wall across the U.S.-Mexico border.

The federal case against Bannon accused him and his partners of defrauding individuals who contributed to his $25 million private crowdfunding effort to build the wall but he received a pardon from former president Donald Trump before the case could be brought to trial.

Trump’s preemptive pardon only covers federal cases against Bannon but states like New York are allowed to bring their own charges.

Bannon told NBC news that New York’s charges against him are “phony” as he attacked the state for pursuing them “60 days before the midterm election.”

While the details of the state indictment remain sealed, the federal charges against Bannon accused him and three others of cheating people who donated to his “We Build the Wall” campaign—which promised the construction of a portion of the wall on private land.

Key Background

After Bannon received a federal pardon from Trump, the Manhattan district attorney’s office, opened its own investigation into the case last year. Federal investigators accused Bannon and three of his associates of using the money they raised from the campaign to pay for personal expenses, including paying hotel and credit card bills, purchasing jewelry, buying a golf cart and a luxury vehicle. Bannon was accused of using up nearly $1 million of the total amount to cover his personal expenses. Air Force veteran Brian Kolfage and Florida venture capitalist Andrew Badolato—two of Bannon’s associates—pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in a New York Federal Court in April. A federal judge declared a mistrial in the case against Bannon’s third associate Colorado entrepreneur Timothy Shea.

Further Reading

Steve Bannon faces state indictment in N.Y., will surrender Thursday (Washington Post)

Steve Bannon expected to face state indictment in New York (NBC News)

Steve Bannon Officially Cleared Of Federal Charges After Trump Pardon — But This State Probe Still Looms (Forbes)

High-Priced Boats, Massive Pools: Photos Show Indicted ‘We Build The Wall’ Founder Lived Lavish Lifestyle (Forbes)

Steve Bannon Indictment: He Pleads Not Guilty To Fraud Charges As Trump Tries To Distance Himself (Forbes)