Steve Bannon says ‘I’m not going to jail’ in New York court

Trump adviser Steve Bannon isn’t worried about going to the big house because New York’s case against him is “bogus.”

The right-wing strategist offered his opinion when he appeared in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday for his alleged role in the We Build the Wall crowdfunding scam.

“I’m not going to jail,” Bannon said. “It’s all a sham.”

Bannon appeared in court with a new team of lawyers at the behest of State Supreme Court Justice Juan Mercan. His previous lawyers said in January that he had stopped talking to them.

He was greeted by more than a dozen protesters with placards reading “Swindler”, “Global Fascist” and “stole from believers MAGA”.

At the hearing, Justin Weddle, a lawyer for the non-profit organization who is also indicted, asked to be dropped from the case because “all the people involved in ‘We Build the Wall’ have resigned.” Merchan said he would make a decision on the request after learning how to proceed without a company representative.

The judge defied Bannon’s lawyers, giving them until May to review the mountain of evidence before he takes the case to trial.

Bannon, 69, pleaded not guilty to money laundering, conspiracy and fraud charges in an indictment that alleges he defrauded supporters of Trump’s signature immigration policy. Trump pardoned him on related federal charges.

Advertisements for We Build The Wall promised to put “every penny” into building a wall on the US-Mexico border. But prosecutors say Bannon siphoned off hundreds of thousands of dollars to enrich himself and his associates. In his pardon case, the feds accused him and three others of funneling over $1 million into cosmetic surgery, golf carts, and credit card debt.

Trump’s pardon did not protect Bannon from prosecution. Other defendants along with him in August 2020 did not receive pardons and have since been convicted.

Brian Kolfaj, a Purple Heart winner and triple amputee, and Andrew Badolato pleaded guilty last spring. A jury found Colorado businessman Timothy Shea guilty in October, four months after his first round in court ended in error. All three are expected to be sentenced in April.

Bannon faces up to 15 years if found guilty. The We Build the Wall Foundation is facing a financial penalty.

The self-proclaimed populist was found guilty of contempt of Congress in July for refusing to cooperate with a House select committee to investigate the January 6 uprising. In October, he was sentenced to four months in prison for the crime, which he is appealing.