Former Trump Adviser Steve Bannon Arrested For Fraud Involving Build The Wall Campaign

Former adviser to President Donald Trump Steve Bannon was arrested Thursday on charges that he and three others defrauded donors in a border wall fundraising campaign.

Bannon, 66, is accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the We Build the Wall campaign. Along with Bannon, Brain Kolfage, Andrew Badolato and Timothy Shea have been indicted.

Authorities allege Kolfage took more than $350,000 for his personal use. Bannon is also accused of using some of the money for personal expenses.

The group raised more than $25 million through its online crowdfunding campaign. Bannon and the others had said they wouldn’t be taking any of the donation money.

“As alleged, the defendants defrauded hundreds of thousands of donors, capitalizing on their interest in funding a border wall to raise millions of dollars, under the false pretense that all of that money would be spent on construction,” acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a statement.

“While repeatedly assuring donors that Brian Kolfage, the founder and public face of We Build the Wall, would not be paid a cent, the defendants secretly schemed to pass hundreds of thousands of dollars to Kolfage, which he used to fund his lavish lifestyle. We thank the USPIS for their partnership in investigating this case, and we remain dedicated to rooting out and prosecuting fraud wherever we find it.”

Bannon will be processed by the FBI and presented Thursday in court in New York, CNN reports.

Bannon left the White House in August 2017.

“I feel very badly. I haven't been dealing with him for a very long period of time, as most of the people in this room know,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Thursday regarding Bannon, noting that he had no knowledge about the “We Build The Wall” campaign.