Steve Bannon, one among President-elect Donald Trump’s loudest supporters, is scheduled for trial in February in a case by which Trump as soon as pardoned him — however this time a White Home pardon is not on the desk.
A decide Tuesday set Feb. 25 as the beginning of Bannon’s trial on costs associated to alleged cash laundering, conspiracy and a scheme to defraud. The case stems from Bannon’s alleged position in a corporation that raised thousands and thousands on the promise — throughout Trump’s first time period in workplace — that they’d privately construct a wall alongside the U.S.-Mexico border.
Bannon and the now-defunct group, referred to as We Construct the Wall, are accused of pocketing donations. He has entered a not responsible plea within the case and referred to as the fees “nonsense,” accusing Manhattan District Lawyer Alvin Bragg of pursuing allegations out of political animus.
Trial within the case was initially scheduled for November 2023, however has been delayed repeatedly.
Bannon was indicted on federal costs in the same case in August 2020, however Trump pardoned him as one among his final acts earlier than leaving workplace in 2021 after his defeat to President Biden.
Presidents can not difficulty pardons for state costs. As Trump enters the second month of his new presidency, his former senior counsel and White Home chief strategist might be in court docket.
Bannon accomplished a four-month federal jail sentence simply three weeks in the past. He was incarcerated for defying a subpoena from a congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol.
Though Bannon already served that sentence, he may nonetheless be eligible for a pardon, which might help remove some penalties of conviction, in response to Justice Division tips. Trump has promised whereas campaigning this yr to pardon lots of the Jan. 6 insurrectionists, however has not stated particularly if Bannon might be included in that group.
