Steve Bannon, former chief strategist to President Donald Trump, pleads guilty today in a Manhattan state court to defrauding donors of the “We Build the Wall” campaign. This online fundraiser, launched in 2018, aimed to finance a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border but was later revealed to have misappropriated funds.
As part of a plea agreement, Bannon admits to a first-degree felony charge of scheming to defraud. In exchange, he receives a three-year conditional discharge, allowing him to avoid prison time provided he remains law-abiding during this period. Additionally, Bannon is prohibited from engaging in fundraising activities or holding fiduciary roles in any New York charitable organizations.
The “We Build the Wall” campaign successfully raised over $25 million from donors who were assured that all contributions would directly fund the border wall’s construction. However, investigations revealed that Bannon and his associates diverted substantial amounts for personal use. Bannon himself is accused of misappropriating more than $1 million, some of which was allegedly used to cover personal expenses and to secretly compensate other individuals involved in the scheme.
This state-level case follows a federal indictment in August 2020, where Bannon and three others were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering related to the same fundraising effort. In January 2021, President Trump pardoned Bannon, leading to the dismissal of federal charges. However, presidential pardons do not apply to state offenses, prompting the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office to pursue charges independently.
Bannon’s co-defendants faced varying legal outcomes. Brian Kolfage and Andrew Badolato pleaded guilty to federal charges and received prison sentences. Timothy Shea was convicted in October 2022 and sentenced to 63 months in prison in July 2023.
Upon leaving the courtroom, Bannon remains defiant, labeling the case as “political persecution” and calling for investigations into New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. He asserts that the charges against him are politically motivated, a claim he has maintained since his initial indictment.
This guilty plea marks Bannon’s first felony conviction. Previously, he served a four-month federal prison sentence in 2024 for contempt of Congress after refusing to comply with a subpoena related to the investigation of the January 6 Capitol attack.
