couldn't happen to a nicer guy BREAKING: Steve Bannon to Be Indicted in New York, Per Report (msn.com) Former White House adviser Steve Bannon will surrender to authorities in New York after being indicted, the Washington Post reported late Tuesday night. Citing people familiar with the case, the Post said the ex-aide to former President Donald Trump will face state charges that “will likely mirror aspects” of a federal fraud case stemming from a fundraising effort he helped spearhead. Called “We Build the Wall,” the endeavor purported to raise money to erect a barrier along the United States’ southern border with Mexico. “The precise details of the state case could not be confirmed Tuesday evening,” the Post said. “But people familiar with the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sealed indictment, suggested the prosecution will likely mirror aspects of the federal case in which Bannon was pardoned.” Federal prosecutors said that rather than build a wall, Bannon and his associates funneled more than $1 million to a campaign official and himself. Trump pardoned Bannon in the waning days of his presidency, but the former president did not pardon his associates. The pardon only covers any federal crimes Bannon may have committed, and not infractions at the state level.
Steve Bannon lashes out after report of impending NYC charges: 'They will have to kill me first' (msn.com) Steve Bannon had harsh words on Tuesday evening after The Washington Post reported he was making arrangements to surrender himself to Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg. "Stephen K. Bannon is expected to surrender to state prosecutors on Thursday to face a new criminal indictment, people familiar with the matter said, weeks after he was convicted of contempt of Congress and nearly two years after he received a federal pardon from President Donald Trump in a federal fraud case," the newspaper reported. "The precise details of the state case could not be confirmed Tuesday evening. But people familiar with the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sealed indictment, suggested the prosecution will likely mirror aspects of the federal case in which Bannon was pardoned." Bannon allegedly profited by $1 million in the "We Build the Wall" scheme after Mexico refused to pay for Trump's border wall. "Just days after being swatted three different times by deranged thugs from New York City inspired to be the Biden administration to assassinate me by police, the Soros-backed DA has now decided to pursue phony charges against me 60 days before the midterm election because WarRoom is the major source of the MAGA grassroots movement,' Bannon argued.
Two of his co-conspirators have already pleaded guilty. Why would they plead guilty to such "phony charges"? I'll bet the Biden Administration had them tortured. That's why Bannon says "they will have to kill me first." Maybe he should add, "At least I hope they do."
Being a right wing zealot is good business for people so willing to part with their money to protect our southern border, which is in crises every time a democrat is in the White House.
I thought there was precedent against this. The state allegations must be significantly different to those in the federal case in which he was pardoned. I'll wait for the legal pundits to weigh in...
Normally double jeopardy wouldn't apply because the state and the federal government are different jurisdictions with federal and state crimes being considered different crimes. Adding the caveat that I am not an expert on New York law although that state may be an exception to the more general rule, double jeopardy still wouldn't apply since Bannon was never actually tried much less convicted by the Feds prior to his pardon by the Dear Leader.
Just researched. NY did have a law prohibiting prosecution of a pardoned person for the same crime. "James has noted that presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes, but New York's prior law had prevented district attorneys from bringing similar state charges if a president pardons someone for a particular crime." To protect against Trump pardons, New York enacts double jeopardy law NY closed this loophole a few years back in anticipation of trump mischief.
There is no double jeopardy because there was no jury empaneled to verdict followed by a final rendered criminal judgment in the federal case.
The new law applies so long as the alleged crimes were committed after the new law took effect. If they were committed before the new law, there are problems, including potentially ex post facto. An argument exists that New York would be criminalizing conduct that was not prosecutable before the new law. This is not a perfect analysis, because the alleged conduct was illegal under New York law when committed, but later pardoned and Bannon was apparently pardoned after the new law took effect. There should be interesting legal arguments in this case.
Isn’t he to be sentenced soon on the contempt charges? Short of killing others, it’s hard to imagine a worse human being. He has zero principles, only a lust for power, money and the spotlight, and the Republic be damned.
This looks like the timeline: 12/18 - "We Build the Wall" started 10/19 - NY closes double jeopardy loophole 8/20 - Federal charges filed 12/21 - trump pardons Bannon So I guess the question is whether Bannon embezzled after 10/19.
Generally good people can break the law, and terrible people can do terrible things without actually breaking the law. Bannon is a terrible human that breaks the law regularly. Whatever happens to him is not enough on the moral scale
Another Trump acolyte-victim who blames the feds because they were caught doing something illegal. Cue the upcoming “I really don’t know Steve that well” social media postings by XLV.
Or: nasty, vicious, state’s attorney on a political witch hunt. I can almost write his statement for him.
All the RWers too. They never know any of the power brokers after they go Full Criminal. Someone will be here soon saying they have never heard of Trump’s chief strategist and Master Wall Builder. Then they’ll all be on a thread about some obscure LW nut who said something to almost no one somewhere at some point.