While Steve Bannon serves a four-month federal prison term, the conservative strategist now has a December date for a different trial in New York, where he's charged with scheming to con donors who gave money to build a border wall with Mexico.
With Bannon excused from court because of his incarceration, a judge Tuesday scheduled jury selection to start Dec. 9 in the “We Build the Wall” case.
The trial had been expected as soon as September. It was postponed because Bannon, a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump, is in a federal penitentiary in Connecticut after being convicted of defying a congressional subpoena related to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
With his release expected in late October, Judge April Newbauer said she wanted to allow enough time afterward for Bannon to meet with his lawyers and review the case, trial exhibits and things she described as "difficult to go over during counsel visits in prison.”
After the jury is seated and opening statements are given, testimony is expected to take about a week.
Bannon's lawyers, John Carman and Joshua Kirshner, declined to comment after court.
Prosecutors say Bannon helped funnel over $100,000 to a co-founder of the nonprofit WeBuildTheWall Inc. who was getting a secret salary, though Bannon and others had promised donors that every dollar would be used to help construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
“All the money you give goes to building the wall,” Bannon said at a June 2019 fundraiser, according to the indictment. It doesn't accuse him of pocketing any of the money himself, but rather of facilitating the clandestine payouts.
Bannon, 70, has pleaded not guilty to money laundering and conspiracy charges. He has called them “nonsense.”
Yet the accusations have dogged him from one court to another. He initially faced federal charges, until that prosecution was cut short when Trump pardoned Bannon in the last hours of his presidential term.
But presidential pardons apply only to federal charges, not state ones. And Bannon found himself facing state charges when Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg took up the “We Build the Wall” matter.
Three other men didn't get pardoned and are serving federal prison time in the case. Two pleaded guilty; a third was convicted at trial.
Meanwhile, a federal jury in Washington convicted Bannon in 2022 of contempt of Congress, finding that he refused to answer questions under oath or provide documents to the House investigation into the Capitol insurrection.
Bannon's attorneys argued that he didn’t refuse to cooperate but that there had been uncertainty about the dates for him to do so.
An appeals court panel upheld his conviction, and the Supreme Court rejected his last-minute bid to delay his prison term while his appeal plays out further.
He turned himself in July 1 to start serving his time, calling himself a “political prisoner” and slamming Attorney General Merrick Garland.
FILE - Steve Bannon speaks outside Danbury Federal Correctional Institution, July 1, 2024, in Danbury, Conn. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, file)
MIAMI (AP) — Otto López was a triple shy of the cycle, Connor Norby homered and drove in three runs, and the Miami Marlins snapped NL East-leading Philadelphia’s six-game winning streak with a 9-5 victory over the Phillies on Saturday.
Jonah Bride also homered, while Xavier Edwards and Nick Fortes had two hits each for the Marlins, who had 14 hits a day after losing 16-2 to the Phillies.
John McMillon (2-1) pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the win.
Phillies starter Aaron Nola (12-7) was lifted after he allowed five runs and nine hits over 4 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out five. It was his shortest start since allowing eight runs and 11 hits in 3 1/3 innings against Boston on June 13.
Bride homered to lead off the fifth and put Miami ahead 5-3 and Jesús Sánchez added an RBI single in the sixth.
The Marlins padded their lead with a three-run seventh against former starter Taijuan Walker. López hit a solo homer over the center field wall in the inning and two runs scored on shortstop Trea Turner's throwing error.
Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber hit a tying sacrifice fly in the third inning for his 93rd RBI of the season.
Norby hit a two-run homer in the first to put Miami ahead 2-1.
Marlins starter Darren McCaughan allowed three runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out four.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: Manager Rob Thomson said catcher J.T. Realmuto has some swelling but will remain with the club as he recovers from a left knee contusion sustained Friday. The Phillies selected the contract of catcher Aramis Garcia from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and designated RHP Nick Nelson for assignment.
Marlins: Placed RHP Max Meyer (right shoulder bursitis) and RHP Calvin Faucher (right shoulder impingement) on the 15-day injured list and OF Derek Hill (right shoulder impingement) on the 10-day injured list. ... LHP Andrew Nardi (left elbow muscle) was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
UP NEXT
RHP Seth Johnson will make his major league debut when he starts the series finale for the Phillies on Sunday. The Marlins have not announced a starter but manager Skip Schumaker said RHP Edward Cabrera could get the nod when he cleared all tests after he withdrew from his scheduled start Friday because of migraine-like symptoms.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Darren McCaughan (68) aims a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Philadelphia Phillies' Bryson Stott (5) hits a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Philadelphia Phillies' Kyle Schwarber (12) slides into second base as Miami Marlins second baseman Otto Lopez (61) is late with the tag during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Miami Marlins' Connor Norby is congratulated by his teammates after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
