Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon pleaded guilty to fraud charges in New York State Court on Tuesday. The charge relates to his involvement in a fundraising campaign for the U.S.-Mexico border wall during Donald Trump’s presidency. Bannon, 71, admitted to one count of defrauding donors through a scheme that raised over $15 million for the “We Build the Wall” initiative in 2019.
Bannon received a sentence of three years of conditional release, meaning he avoided jail time. However, as part of his sentence, he is banned from serving on a New York nonprofit for three years and is prohibited from using or selling donor data gathered during the campaign.
Originally facing charges of money laundering and conspiracy, Bannon was accused of misleading donors who believed all their contributions would fund the border wall. Instead, Bannon allegedly funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to Brian Kolfage, the campaign’s chief executive, who had promised to work without a salary.
Bannon had previously denied the charges and was set to stand trial in March. The indictment was brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office.
Outside the courthouse, Bannon avoided speaking about the case itself. Instead, he criticized District Attorney Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James, calling them “existential threats” to the Trump administration. He urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to initiate a criminal investigation into their actions.
Although James was not involved in Bannon’s case, she had previously sued Trump for civil fraud, winning a nearly $500 million judgment. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and is appealing the decision.
The border wall project was a central promise of Trump’s immigration policy, receiving strong support from his Republican allies but facing fierce opposition from immigrant rights groups.
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