Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon will be charged in New York state and intends to surrender on Thursday over his role in the right-wing We Build the Wall organization that allegedly defrauded donors, which has long caught the eye of investigators. Back in 2020, Bannon was pardoned on federal charges by then-President Donald Trump over his role in the alleged scam.
The news follows reporting late Tuesday that the IRS stripped the Bannon-operated group Citizens of the American Republic’s tax-exempt status, which the feds alleged was used to funnel money from the We Build the Wall operation into Bannon and partner Brian Kolfage’s pockets. The tough-talking Bannon said in a statement to The Daily Beast through a spokesperson that he has “not yet begun to fight,” while alleging the state charges are politically motivated. “The Soros-backed DA has now decided to pursue phony charges against me 60 days before the midterm election because WarRoom [Bannon’s daily podcast] is the major source of the MAGA grassroots movement,” he said. “I am never going to stop fighting. In fact, I have not yet begun to fight. They will have to kill me first.” Read more at The Daily Beast.
