Steve Bannon, a former senior White House advisor to President Donald Trump, has pleaded guilty in a New York court. The plea is linked to charges of defrauding Trump supporters who contributed over $15 million to a campaign purportedly aimed at building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Bannon, initially facing six criminal counts since 2022, admitted guilt to one count of first-degree scheme to defraud.
This development comes just three weeks before Bannon's trial was scheduled to commence. As part of the plea agreement, Bannon received a sentence of three years of conditional discharge, meaning he will not serve time in prison. However, the court has barred him from holding any position as an officer or director in charitable organizations within New York State. Additionally, he is prohibited from participating in fundraising activities and engaging with not-for-profit groups in the state.
Bannon's political career saw him briefly serve as a senior advisor in the Trump administration during the president's first term. His tenure was short-lived, as he was dismissed in April 2017. Now 71 years old, Bannon faces significant restrictions on his future activities due to this case.
The charges stem from allegations that funds raised from Trump supporters were misappropriated. The supporters believed their contributions were directly funding the construction of a border wall, a key promise of Trump's presidential campaign. The total amount raised exceeded $15 million, with Bannon and others accused of diverting the funds for personal use.