Porcine derelict impersonator and "alt right" agitator Steve "Loose Cannon" Bannon may have thought his Dear Leader's pardon got him out of his legal problems for scamming Trump cultists, but State and local prosecutors are hot on his messy trail. Since the Presidential pardon only covered Federal charges, Bannon's legal jeopardy is still alive in New York and potentially elsewhere.
Bannon's scam involved crowdfunding donations from gullible Trumpists to build out the southern border wall. Bannon and his associates were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. The only thing Bannon built was his banking account, according to prosecutors. Here's the bad news for Bannon:
"The New York attorney general's office has partnered with Manhattan's district attorney to investigate Stephen K. Bannon for the alleged fundraising scam that prompted his federal pardon in the waning hours of Donald Trump's presidency, according to people familiar with the matter. The move adds prosecutorial firepower to a criminal case widely seen as an attempted end-run around the former president's bid to protect a political ally.
Investigators employed by the state attorney general were deputized to work as prosecutors with the team led by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. (D), whose investigation of Bannon began shortly after his pardon was announced in January, these people said. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. [snip]
Bannon, along with three others, was indicted in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on charges of stealing funds from their “We Build The Wall” campaign. Federal prosecutors alleged he pocketed more than $1 million after representing to supporters that all funds collected through the effort would be used for wall construction." (our emphasis)
Having a combined effort by New York State's powerful Attorney General Letitia James, and the effective Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance indicates a powerful case against the former Trump "advisor" and liaison with far-right fringe groups. Both civil and criminal prosecutions could be underway by the State of New York and Manhattan District Attorney's office respectively. In any event, law enforcement should be concerned about Bannon being a flight risk; he was originally arrested on board the yacht of a fugitive Chinese billionaire and may not be as "easy" to collar the next time.
(photo: Sipa USA via AP)
