Former political adviser to former President Donald Trump and staunch MAGA ally, Steve Bannon, has now officially been changed and indicted by New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, and has since turned himself over and surrendered to authorities. But, it’s not on the charges already against him relating to his Contempt of Congress indictment in the January 6th Capitol riot investigation — this time, it’s over the financial scam he ran against the ex-president’s supporters when he willingly took their money under the pretense of his “We Build The Wall” along the US southern border fundraising campaign promise that never actually came to fruition.
ABC News shared video footage this morning that showed Bannon arriving at the New York courthouse, where he was greeted by a police officer. The staunch Trump ally immediately began to scream and yell as he surrendered himself to the police on his charges.
“They’re persecuting people!” Bannon screams out in the clip.
JUST IN: Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon arrives at Manhattan DA’s office to surrender to authorities over his alleged role in an online fundraising campaign for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. https://t.co/23FiRGNvlk pic.twitter.com/XsljP9sUE8
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) September 8, 2022
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ABC News goes on to report that Bannon spoke with reporters as he was turning himself in, claiming that it was “all about 60 days to the election.”
“This is an irony, on the very day the mayor of this city has a delegation down on the border, they are persecuting people here who try to stop them on the border,” the former Trump advisor was referencing a fact-finding delegation sent to Texas by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, following Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to bus migrants to New York.
ABC News reports:
The indictment charges Bannon and ‘We Build the Wall’ itself with two counts of money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison. There are additional felony counts of conspiracy and scheme to defraud along with one misdemeanor count of conspiracy to defraud.
The state charges, brought by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, resemble federal charges for which Bannon received a pardon by Trump, and allege that Bannon and “We Build the Wall” defrauded 430 Manhattan-based donors out of $33,600. Across New York state, there were more than 11,000 donors defrauded out of more than $730,000, according to the indictment.
The pardon only applied to the federal case and does not preclude the state charges.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James said, “Mr. Bannon took advantage of his donors’ political views to secure millions of dollars which he then misappropriated. Mr. Bannon lied to his donors to enrich himself and his friend.”
Manhattan District Attorney Bragg added, “It is a crime to turn a profit by lying to donors, and in New York, you will be held accountable. As alleged, Stephen Bannon acted as the architect of a multi-million dollar scheme to defraud thousands of donors across the country — including hundreds of Manhattan residents.”
Read the full report from ABC News here.
Featured image via screen capture
