Steve Bannon Faces Trial: Allegations & Legal Battles

Steve Bannon, a former adviser to Donald Trump, is facing trial over fraud charges related to fundraising for Trump's border wall. Bannon, having already been pardoned on federal charges by Trump in 2021, now confronts a state indictment. The case highlights controversies around presidential pardons and legal accountability.

Steve Bannon, a former key adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, appeared in court on Tuesday to face trial over criminal fraud charges concerning a fundraising effort for Trump's border wall initiative. The charges come just weeks after Bannon's release from serving time for a different conviction.

The trial, set to begin on December 9 in Manhattan's New York state court, accuses Bannon of deceiving donors who contributed over $15 million in 2019 to fund the construction of a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border. Despite pleading not guilty, Bannon's legal battles proceed, playing out in the broader narrative of Trump's immigration policies, which were pivotal to his political strategy.

If convicted, Bannon would not be eligible for a presidential pardon from Trump should he return to the White House. This trial underscores the complexity of presidential pardons, particularly regarding state-level prosecutions, and reaffirms the ongoing discourse around legal accountability and political influence.

(With inputs from agencies.)