Steve Bannon, a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a state charge related to a scheme to defraud donors of millions in contributions intended for a private effort to build a U.S.-Mexico border wall.
Appearing in a New York courtroom, Bannon admitted to scheming to defraud in the first degree as part of a plea deal that spares him prison time. Instead, he was sentenced to three years of conditional discharge, during which he is barred from leading nonprofits in New York, raising money for charities with assets in the state, or using donor data from the scheme.
Bannon was originally charged in September 2022 for his involvement with We Build the Wall, an organization that raised $15 million from donors under the promise of privately constructing a border barrier. Prosecutors alleged that Bannon and other individuals misled donors about how the funds would be used. His attorney argued Tuesday that Bannon personally did not profit from the effort.
The plea deal resolves a case that dates back to Trump’s first term, during which Bannon briefly served as the president’s chief strategist. The former Trump adviser was previously indicted on federal charges for the same scheme in 2020, but that case was dropped when Trump pardoned him in the final hours of his administration. However, presidential pardons do not extend to state charges, which allowed New York prosecutors to pursue the case.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg emphasized that the plea agreement served to protect donors from fraud. “New York has an important interest in rooting out fraud in our markets, our corporations, and our charities, and we will continue to do just that,” Bragg said in a statement.
Bannon, who has frequently denounced the cases against him as politically motivated, previously served four months in federal prison in 2024 for contempt of Congress after refusing to comply with a subpoena related to the January 6 Capitol riot investigation.
His guilty plea in New York comes amid heightened legal battles involving Trump and his associates. Bragg’s office also led the prosecution that resulted in Trump’s historic conviction on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records, a case currently under appeal.
Despite his legal troubles, Bannon remains a vocal supporter of Trump and his policies, particularly on immigration, as the former president gears up for another potential term in office.
