Steve Bannon, a longtime adviser to former President Donald Trump, surrendered for arraignment Thursday morning in New York City on new criminal charges involving an alleged fundraising scheme, Bannon’s lawyer David Schoen confirmed to USA TODAY.
The case is expected to echo aspects of a previous federal criminal case that accused Bannon and three co-defendants of conspiring to dupe donors who contributed more than $25 million to build a security wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Those who ponied up to a crowdfunding campaign allegedly were assured all of the money raised would go toward the construction project – helping to boost a signature goal of the Trump White House.
However, the federal indictment in that case alleged that Bannon and his co-defendants secretly siphoned off hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations. Bannon collected more than $1 million via a non-profit organization he controlled, and used the funds to pay personal expenses and other costs, federal prosecutors allege.
Schoen told USA TODAY that Bannon does not yet know what charges he faces.
The New York attorney general’s office scheduled a press conference for 1 p.m. ET to discuss the indictment against Bannon, which is still sealed. USA TODAY requested comment from the attorney general’s office.
Bannon’s arraignment will take place around 2:15 p.m. ET, according to the district attorney’s office.
Bannon’s legal troubles:From border wall fund to Jan. 6 contempt
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