A New York judge has agreed to delay the trial of Steve Bannon, a former political adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, on charges of defrauding supporters. The trial was originally set to begin on December 9, but Judge April Newbauer has postponed it to February 25, 2025, after Bannon’s defense team requested more time to respond to new evidence presented by prosecutors.
Bannon is facing charges of conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering, with a possible sentence of up to 15 years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges. Prosecutors allege that Bannon misused funds donated for the construction of a border wall with Mexico for his personal benefit, instead of using them for the intended purpose.
The case against Bannon is being brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg at the state level, as Trump had pardoned Bannon on related federal charges before leaving office in January 2021. It is important to note that a president cannot pardon state charges. Two of Bannon’s former associates in the organization were not pardoned and were sentenced to prison last year in the federal case.
Bannon was recently released from prison after serving four months for failing to comply with a congressional subpoena related to his involvement in Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. The trial delay allows Bannon’s legal team more time to prepare their defense against the charges brought against him.
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Stay tuned for further updates on this case.
