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BANNON INDICTMENT:
DOJ prosecutors today arrested Steve Bannon, alleging "We Build the Wall" was a schmem used by him + others to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in their personal expenses.
Read indictment here. And thread coming, starting below. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/leaders-we-build-wall-online-fundraising-campaign-charged-defrauding-hundreds-thousands
DOJ prosecutors today arrested Steve Bannon, alleging "We Build the Wall" was a schmem used by him + others to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in their personal expenses.
Read indictment here. And thread coming, starting below. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/leaders-we-build-wall-online-fundraising-campaign-charged-defrauding-hundreds-thousands
Bannon, reminder, was CEO of the Trump campaign from late August, 2016 through the end.
He was a senior adviser in the WH until Aug. 2017.
Also is a Navy vet + former Goldman Sachs VP.
He was a senior adviser in the WH until Aug. 2017.
Also is a Navy vet + former Goldman Sachs VP.
Bannon Indictment:
Charges Bannon, 3 others created "a scheme to defraud hundreds of thousands of donors ... in connection w/ the crowdfunding campaign ultimately known as 'We Build the Wall' that raised more than $25 million to build a wall along the Southern border..."
3/
Charges Bannon, 3 others created "a scheme to defraud hundreds of thousands of donors ... in connection w/ the crowdfunding campaign ultimately known as 'We Build the Wall' that raised more than $25 million to build a wall along the Southern border..."
3/
Indictiment:
Bannon and Kolfage (also arrested), "repeatedly and falsely assured the public" that "100% of the funds raised ... will be used in execution of our mission and purpose".
"Those representations were false."
4/
Bannon and Kolfage (also arrested), "repeatedly and falsely assured the public" that "100% of the funds raised ... will be used in execution of our mission and purpose".
"Those representations were false."
4/
Indictment:
"Bannon ... received over $1,000,000 from We Build the Wall, which Bannon used to, among other things, secretly pay Kolfage to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in Bannon's personal expenses."
"Bannon ... received over $1,000,000 from We Build the Wall, which Bannon used to, among other things, secretly pay Kolfage to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in Bannon's personal expenses."
Indictment:
- "We the People Build the Wall" raised $17,000,000 through Go Fund Me in its first week.
- Bannon was not involved yet.
- Immediately Go Fund Me warned if it did not see a legitimate non-profit where the $ was going, it would return the money to donors.
6/
- "We the People Build the Wall" raised $17,000,000 through Go Fund Me in its first week.
- Bannon was not involved yet.
- Immediately Go Fund Me warned if it did not see a legitimate non-profit where the $ was going, it would return the money to donors.
6/
Indictment:
- Bannon was brought in and w/in days he and another defendant "took control" of fundraising and day-to-day activities. (This was Dec. 2018)
- They formed the non-profit "We Build the Wall".
7/
- Bannon was brought in and w/in days he and another defendant "took control" of fundraising and day-to-day activities. (This was Dec. 2018)
- They formed the non-profit "We Build the Wall".
7/
Indictment:
- In Jan. 2019, the group changed the mission from giving the fed. govt. money for a wall to building a private wall along the border.
- They asked donors to "opt in" to the new plan.
- The group repeated told donors "100%" of the money would go to a wall.
8/
- In Jan. 2019, the group changed the mission from giving the fed. govt. money for a wall to building a private wall along the border.
- They asked donors to "opt in" to the new plan.
- The group repeated told donors "100%" of the money would go to a wall.
8/
THIS, Bannon indictiment:
- Some donors wrote "that they did not have a lot of money and were skeptical ... but were giving what they could because they trusted (Bannon's colleague) to keep his word about how donations would be spent."
- They raised $25 M total.
9/
- Some donors wrote "that they did not have a lot of money and were skeptical ... but were giving what they could because they trusted (Bannon's colleague) to keep his word about how donations would be spent."
- They raised $25 M total.
9/
Indictment:
- Despite public assurances no one was profiting and Kolfage was not getting a salary, Bannon and a colleague secretly agreed to pay Kolfage (original creator) "$100k upfront" and "20 (per) month".
- They passed these payments to him through third parties.
- Despite public assurances no one was profiting and Kolfage was not getting a salary, Bannon and a colleague secretly agreed to pay Kolfage (original creator) "$100k upfront" and "20 (per) month".
- They passed these payments to him through third parties.
Indictment:
- The defendants (including Bannon) "each received hundreds of thousands of dollars in donor funds from We Build the Wall which they used to pay for ... among other things, travel, hotels, consumer goods and personal credit card debts. "
11/
- The defendants (including Bannon) "each received hundreds of thousands of dollars in donor funds from We Build the Wall which they used to pay for ... among other things, travel, hotels, consumer goods and personal credit card debts. "
11/
Indictment:
- The group sent texts about creating false expenses like for "consulting" - moving money into accounts under that expense and then moving it out to pay Kolfage and cover their own expenses.
12/
- The group sent texts about creating false expenses like for "consulting" - moving money into accounts under that expense and then moving it out to pay Kolfage and cover their own expenses.
12/
Bannon indictment mentions, as involved:
- 11 bank accounts
- A 2019 Jupiter Marine boat named "Warfighter" (Used Jupiter boats run $500,000 to $1,000,000 plus on the web.) (Unclear whose boat this is.)
- A 2018 Land Rover.
13/
- 11 bank accounts
- A 2019 Jupiter Marine boat named "Warfighter" (Used Jupiter boats run $500,000 to $1,000,000 plus on the web.) (Unclear whose boat this is.)
- A 2018 Land Rover.
13/
Last one.
The Bannon indictment does not say how much money raised by "We Build the Wall" actually did go to building a wall.
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The Bannon indictment does not say how much money raised by "We Build the Wall" actually did go to building a wall.
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