Trial date set for Steve Bannon’s fundraising fraud case

A New York state decide has set a trial date for Steve Bannon’s fundraising fraud case for Might of subsequent yr.

In a short court docket listening to Thursday, the decide mentioned Bannon’s trial would start Might 27, 2024 – roughly two months after former President Donald Trump might be on trial earlier than the identical decide, Juan Merchan, in a separate case associated to falsifying enterprise data tied to hush cash funds.

Bannon has pleaded not responsible to a number of counts of conspiracy, cash laundering and scheme to defraud. He was first indicted on federal expenses in 2020 however pardoned by Trump in his remaining days in workplace. The Manhattan district lawyer’s workplace and New York lawyer common’s workplace introduced state expenses in opposition to Bannon final summer season.

Prosecutors allege Bannon and others defrauded donors in a fundraising effort referred to as “We Construct The Wall.”

Bannon and an affiliate, Brian Kolfage, promised donors that the marketing campaign, which in the end raised greater than $25 million, was “a volunteer group” and that “100% of the funds raised … might be used within the execution of our mission and goal,” in line with an indictment.

However as an alternative, in line with prosecutors, Bannon, by way of a nonprofit below his management, diverted tons of of 1000’s of {dollars} to Kolfage and others.

Kolfage and one other Bannon affiliate, Andrew Badolato, had been indicted on federal expenses alongside Bannon and every pleaded responsible to at least one rely of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in April 2022. Kolfage additionally pleaded responsible to 2 counts of submitting a false tax return and one rely of wire fraud in reference to submitting a false tax return.

This story has been up to date with extra info.