New York Judge April Newbauer declined to immediately postpone former Trump White House chief strategist and War Room host Stephen K. Bannon‘s fraud trial. The trial stems from an online campaign to raise funds to build the border wall. Bannon’s attorneys are seeking to move the trial to January.
However, in her ruling, Judge Newbauer did reserve the right to move the trial date in the future—but not until after the hearing next Monday that will address additional evidence that prosecutors wish to introduce. In 2022, Bannon pleaded not guilty to charges that he defrauded donors to the “We Build the Wall” campaign—which sought to raise funds to complete President Donald J. Trump’s border wall between the United States and Mexico.
Prosecutors argue that their intention to introduce new evidence to the case would not further delay the trial, though Bannon’s attorneys contend they would need time to review and determine what course of action they should take. According to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, the new evidence deals specifically with a new charge that Bannon sought to personally profit from the online campaign. Bannon’s defense team asserts this is a new charge and could alter the nature of their defense.
“We don’t see it having any impact on the length of the trial from the people’s perspective,” Jeffrey Levinson, the assistant Manhattan District Attorney, argued in court on Tuesday. He added: “The notion that this is a shock or a surprise, I think, is misplaced.”
Responding to the prosecution’s assertion, Bannon’s defense lawyer, John Carman, stated, “We may now need to offer testimony and/or evidence countering the assertion that Mr. Bannon was motivated by personal profit.” Carman also noted that any money taken by Bannon was reimbursement—which he is legally entitled to.
