Steve Bannon turned himself in on money laundering and conspiracy allegations
Ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon was indicted and turned himself in to New York state prosecutors on Thursday morning.
Bannon is accused of taking some of the money donated to the “Build the Wall” organization in exchange for promises to construct a wall along the border between the United States and Mexico, but he also faces charges of money laundering in the second degree and conspiracy in the fourth degree for his role in the organization. The charges stem from Bannon’s participation in the organization.
On Thursday afternoon, the Manhattan district attorney’s office and the New York attorney general’s office will hold a press conference to discuss the accusations.
“There cannot be one set of rules for everyday people and another for the wealthy and powerful — we all must play by the same rules and must obey the law,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement.
“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 friends. We will continue to take on fraudulent behavior in every corner of society, including white collar criminals, because no one is above the law. I thank District Attorney Bragg for his close partnership on this matter and commend the dedicated teams at the Attorney General’s Office and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for their hard work.”
Bannon, anticipating his indictment on the following Monday, released a statement of his own.
“Just days after being swatted three different times by deranged thugs from New York City inspired by the Biden Administration to assassinate me by police, the Soros-backed DA has now decided to pursue phony charges against me 60 days before the midterm election because WarRoom is the major source of the MAGA grassroots movement,” Bannon said in the statement.
Similar charges were brought against Bannon in federal court in the year 2020, but he was granted a pardon by President Trump in his last days in office.
Bannon was found guilty of contempt of Congress in July after he refused to comply with a subpoena to testify before a House committee investigating the assault that occurred on January 6 on the United States Capitol. At his sentencing next month, he faces up to two years in jail.
