Bannon pleads guilty to fraud; sentenced to probation
Former adviser to Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in a New York State court to a fraud charge related to his fundraising campaign for a wall along the US-Mexico border. He was sentenced to three years of probation.
Steve Bannon, aged 71, was accused of money laundering and conspiracy, as well as deceiving donors who, in 2019, contributed over £12 million for a private fundraising campaign under the slogan "We Build the Wall." Investigators claimed the money was used by Bannon for personal purposes and distributed to others involved in the project.
Constructing the border wall was a key element of Trump's immigration policy during his first presidency.
Bannon served as an adviser to Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign and in 2017 assumed the role of chief strategist for the president. However, a conflict later arose between them, and in 2018 Trump removed him from his position. Despite this, Bannon remained a staunch supporter of the president.
Steve Bannon sentenced. What about presidential pardon?
The AP agency emphasises that Trump cannot pardon Bannon because the charges against him were brought at the state level.
In October 2022, Bannon was sentenced to four months in jail and a £5,300 fine for refusing to testify before the Congressional committee investigating the events of 6 January 2021.
Bannon was considered one of the key figures involved in the protests that culminated in the storming of the Capitol. The day before the riots, he announced on his podcast that on 6 January "all hell is going to break loose," and suggested a "revolution" was imminent. On 5 January, Bannon also met with Republican congressmen at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C.
