Steve Bannon pleads guilty to fraud

Steve Bannon, former strategic advisor to Donald Trump and a key figure in the MAGA movement, pleaded guilty to fraud in the We Build the Wall case. This fundraising campaign, which he publicly supported and promoted, claimed to finance the construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The organization, having raised over 15 million dollars through donations from Trump supporters, claimed that the funds would be used exclusively for the construction of the border wall promised by Trump during his first term. In reality, part of the money was diverted for personal use and luxury expenses.

Between 2018 and 2020, Steve Bannon was accused of diverting more than 1 million dollars from the We Build the Wall fundraising. Part of this amount was used to pay Brian Kolfage and finance Bannon’s luxurious lifestyle.

Brian Kolfage, co-founder of the fundraising campaign We Build the Wall, admitted to diverting more than $350,000 for his personal use, including luxury purchases such as an SUV, cosmetic surgery, and home renovations.

Andrew Badolato, associate of Brian Kolfage in the fundraising effort We Build the Wall, has been found guilty of complicity in this fraudulent scheme. Although the exact amount he diverted is not specified, prosecutors indicated that Badolato, alongside Kolfage, diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations for his personal use. 

Brian Kolfage and Andrew Badolato received more than four years in prison, while Timothy Shea, also involved in this case, was sentenced to five years.

After the verdict, Steve Bannon denounced a “politically motivated” trial, stating that it was an attack against him and his allies.

Bannon has also demanded investigations into the New York Attorney General and the Manhattan District Attorney, accusing them of political persecution. 

Steve Bannon took the opportunity to reaffirm his steadfast support for Donald Trump.

With Trump’s return to the White House and the appointment of his loyalists to key positions in the government…

…some fear that similar frauds could occur again without any control.