Steve Bannon, former Trump adviser, pleads guilty in border wall fraud case
Share and Follow

NEW YORK — President Trump’s confidante Steve Bannon pleaded guilty Tuesday to defrauding New Yorkers who donated to We Build the Wall, an online fundraiser for Trump’s signature project during his first term, in exchange for a sentence without prison time.

“The parties have worked out a plea agreement Mr. Bannon will plead guilty to count 5 of the indictment, which is scheme to defraud in the indictment. He will receive a conditional discharge,” prosecutor Jeffrey Levinson said.

The guilty plea to the felony charge represents Bannon’s second criminal conviction after he served prison time for contempt of Congress.

Bannon showed up to court in a brown barn jacket, his brushed back grey hair spilling over the upturned collar. He sat at the defense table signing papers before Judge April Newbauer affirmed that he now wanted to plead guilty.

“Is that what you wish to do?” Newbauer asked. “Yes, your honor,” Bannon replied, before acknowledging he acted to defraud multiple donors.

“Do you now plead guilty to count 5, scheme to defraud?” the court clerk asked. “Yes,” Bannon responded. The judge imposed the agreed upon sentence of a three-year conditional discharge, during which time Bannon cannot serve as a director of a charity or fundraise for a nonprofit. He is also barred from using data gathered from We Build the Wall donors.

We Build the Wall promised 100% of donations would fund a wall along the U.S. southern border but Bannon redirected money elsewhere.

Bannon was indicted in September 2022. He previously pleaded not guilty and was scheduled to stand trial next month.

Bannon was initially charged in federal court with three codefendants. Trump pardoned Bannon but not the codefendants, whose prosecutions asset forfeitures that made defrauded donors whole.

Bannon defrauded donors to the non-profit by falsely promising that none of the money they donated would be used to pay the salary of We Build the Wall president Brian Kolfage, while secretly funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to him by laundering it through third-party entities, prosecutors said.

The campaign represented that We Build the Wall would use the money to privately construct the border wall, and prosecutors said a “central piece of the public messaging in support of this fundraising effort was that Kolfage was not taking a penny of compensation.” Financial records show that Kolfage was paid according to a secret salary arrangement an upfront payment of $100,000 and monthly payments of approximately $20,000.

Copyright © 2025 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Ron DeSantis' wife Casey mercilessly mocked for fashion faux pas

Casey DeSantis Faces Fashion Criticism as Social Media Reacts to Wardrobe Blunder

While imitation is often considered the sincerest form of flattery, Florida’s first…
Why political assassination cases aren't automatically death penalty eligible

Reevaluating Justice: Why Political Assassinations Don’t Always Lead to Death Penalty Sentences

The alleged murder plots involving Luigi Mangione and Tyler Robinson were meticulously…
Congressman Randy Fine introduces bill to allow Greenland annexation and statehood

Congressman Randy Fine Proposes Bold Move for Greenland to Join the U.S. as a New State

A Republican congressman from Florida has put forward the Greenland Annexation and…
Cruise hit by brutal outbreak of 'rib-cracking' stomach virus

Shocking Stomach Virus Outbreak Rocks Luxury Cruise: What You Need to Know

Passengers aboard a Holland America Line cruise ship have been struck by…
Secret Service aware of UMass Lowell-funded radio DJ’s directive to ‘kill JD Vance’

UMass Lowell Radio DJ’s Shocking ‘Kill JD Vance’ Commentary Alerts Secret Service: What Happened?

EXCLUSIVE: A volunteer radio show host has stepped down following confirmation from…
NYC hospital accuses nurses’ union of seeking protections for workers arriving drunk, high as strike begins

NYC Hospital Claims Nurses’ Union Demands Controversial Protections Amid Strike

On Monday, thousands of healthcare professionals staged a walkout, marking the largest…
Budget airline Allegiant to acquire Sun Country in $1.5 billion merger

Allegiant’s $1.5 Billion Deal to Merge with Sun Country: A Game-Changer in the Airline Industry

The merger of Allegiant Airlines with Sun Country Airlines will result in…
Leonardo DiCaprio dominates Golden Globes 2026 viral moments

Leonardo DiCaprio Steals the Spotlight: Unforgettable Viral Moments from the 2026 Golden Globes

The 2026 Golden Globes offered a spectacle that the internet simply couldn’t…