Steve Bannon’s trial in border wall aid plan case postponed until February

NEW YORK – Conservative strategist Steve Bannon He won’t be tried until February on charges of conspiring to deceive donors to build the state’s border wall, a judge said Monday after prosecutors requested the jury remain anonymous.

Bannon was not in court but listened virtually as Judge April Newbauer set a Feb. 25 deadline for jury selection and postponed the selection until next month. Bannon did not speak except to say “yes, ma’am” when asked if he understood he would have to be in court on the new date.

Bannon, a longtime ally of former and future President Donald Trump and a onetime White House adviser. recently released Four months in federal prison for contempt of Congress.

Once upon a time WeBuildTheWall Inc. His trial in the case involving the charity known as was set to begin on December 9. Bannon chaired the group’s advisory board.

The judge postponed the trial date after deciding that prospective jurors would hear evidence that some of the Wall charity’s money went to pay off more than $600,000 in credit card debt that a separate Bannon nonprofit had accumulated in 2019. he wanted to introduce it, but defense attorneys unsuccessfully argued that it was irrelevant.

Bannon has He did not admit his guilt The case includes accusations such as conspiracy and money laundering. Manhattan prosecutors made the move after Trump similarly pardoned Bannon federal prosecution This was in its early stages.

The judge has not yet decided whether jurors’ names will be kept secret.