A New York judge on Monday delayed the start of the criminal trial ofSteve Bannon, a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump and his former White House adviser.
Bannon faces numerous charges from the Manhattan district attorney’s office, whichallegeshedefraudeddonorswho believed they were giving money to build a wall at the southern U.S. border. He pleaded not guilty.
Bannon’s trial had been scheduled for Dec. 9. At a hearing Monday, Judge April Newbauer pushed the date back to Feb. 25 after she granted prosecutors’ motion to allow additional financial evidence that they say goes to Bannon’s motive.
“We re not changing it again,” Newbauer told both sides, including Bannon, who attended virtually.
Bannon was indictedin September 2022 on charges including money laundering, scheming to defraud and conspiracy.
Bannon was chair of the “advisory group” for an organization called WeBuildTheWall Inc., which prosecutors say duped thousands of donors by telling them all of the money raised would go to build a wall along the southern border, not to the people running the effort.
Bannon used some of the money to enrich himself and the group’s founder,Brian Kolfage, prosecutors say.
Three other members of the group,including Kolfage, have been convicted of charges related to the scheme.
Bannon maintains Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, targeted him for political reasons. Bragg won a conviction against Trump this year in an unrelated case.
Federal prosecutorsinitially charged Bannon in relation to the same schemein August 2020. He pleaded not guilty, andTrump pardoned himlater.
Presidents cannot issue pardons in state cases. Bannon faces up to 15 years behind bars if he is convicted.
Bannon, the host of the “Bannon’s War Room” podcast,recently completed a four-month prison sentencefor defying subpoenas for testimony and documents from the House Jan. 6 committee related to the 2021 assault on the Capitol.
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