Steve Bannon arrested and indicted for "stealing" millions

New York, New York - Steven Bannon turned himself in on Thursday in New York City and pled not guilty to charges in relation to a money scheme created to fund ex-President Donald Trump's border wall.

Steve Bannon, the former political advisor to Donald Trump, was arrested on Thursday for charges related to a money scheme for Trump's border wall project.
Steve Bannon, the former political advisor to Donald Trump, was arrested on Thursday for charges related to a money scheme for Trump's border wall project.  © MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

New York Attorney General Letitia James shared the news on Twitter, explaining that Bannon "has been indicted for stealing more than $15 million from thousands of Americans for his sham effort to build a wall between the US and Mexico."

"No matter how powerful you are, no one is above the law," she added.

The case is related to the "We Build the Wall" GoFundMe campaign that raised over $25 million, promising donors that "100% of the funds" would go to the construction of the wall. Bannon, in particular, is accused of scamming donors over $1 million, which he used for personal expenses.

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Federal prosecutors arrested the former presidential advisor on similar fraud charges in August 2020.

Trump infamously pardoned his former ally in January 2021, only hours before he left office, but the pardon only covered federal crimes, not those on the state level.

That's why New York can now charge him with money laundering, scheming to defraud, and conspiracy, to which he has pled not guilty on all counts.

Steve Bannon is ready for a fight

Steve Bannon arrives for his arrangement at the New York State Supreme Court on Thursday.
Steve Bannon arrives for his arrangement at the New York State Supreme Court on Thursday.  © MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

In a video shared on Twitter, Bannon is seen being led by police into the Manhattan DA's office on Thursday morning, and he had a few words for his opponents.

"This is an irony," Bannon said to reporters and supporters. "On the very day the mayor of this city has a delegation down on the border, they’re persecuting people here."

His tirade continued in another clip, as he was being brought into the courtroom that same day.

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"This is what happens on the last days of a dying regime," he said, clearly upset. "They will never shut me up, they'll have to kill me first."

"I have not yet begun to fight," he added cryptically.

While he was being charged with scamming the base he used to represent, supporters protested outside the courthouse, with one person repeatedly yelling "Stop hurting America!"

Bannon is also facing up to two years in prison for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the committee investigating the January 6 capitol riots.

Cover photo: MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

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