Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon will now face trial in New York starting March 4, following a delay from the originally scheduled date of February 25. Judge April Neubauer granted the postponement after questioning Bannon about his decision to switch legal representation in a Wednesday hearing.
“I’ve been smeared by a political prosecution — persecution — for years, and I need someone who’s a little more aggressive,” Bannon stated during the hearing, according to the Associated Press. “I need every tool in the toolbox.”
Judge Neubauer, while agreeing to the delay, warned, “Well, every tool in the toolbox does not include delaying the trial.”
Bannon faces charges stemming from allegations that he promised donors that contributions to the "We Build the Wall" campaign would be used exclusively for constructing a border wall. Launched in 2018, the campaign raised over $20 million and financed the private construction of several miles of fencing along the southern border. The Manhattan District Attorney’s office, led by Alvin Bragg, claimed that Bannon defrauded donors. Bannon has denied the allegations.
Bannon made the decision to change his legal representation after Newbauer’s ruling last November to allow certain evidence to be presented to jurors. The evidence brought by prosecutors includes an email in which Bannon allegedly expressed concerns about the campaign being “a scam,” according to the Associated Press.
“Isn’t this a scam? You can’t build the wall for this much money,” Bannon reportedly wrote, according to prosecutor Jeffrey Levinson. The email also allegedly stated, “Poor Americans shouldn’t be using hard-earned money to chase something not doable.”
Bannon’s new attorney, Arthur Aidala, explained that the defense team is actively reviewing the case files provided by the prosecution.
“We are going to roll up our sleeves and get ready to try this case,” Aidala said.
This trial follows Bannon’s release from prison last October after serving a four-month sentence for contempt of Congress.
