Steve Bannon—the infamous white nationalist who served as former Republican President Donald Trump's chief strategist until a rather contentious falling out—has been charged with state-level money laundering and conspiracy counts in New York related to a "We Build The Wall" fundraising campaign to build a wall on the nation's southern border.
On September 8, he turned himself into authorities, marking a striking development in a case from which he'd been previously spared federal prosecution because of a pardon by Trump on the last day of his presidency in 2021.
Bannon—who has alleged the new charges were part of a conspiracy orchestrated by Jewish financier George Soros—has pleaded not guilty to deceiving donors but still had to do a "perp walk" outside a Manhattan courtroom.
The video of that walk, during which he can be heard ranting that the charges are all "nonsense" and that he will resist any attempts to "shut me up" quickly went viral.
You can see the moment in the video below.
\u201cSteve Bannon entering courtroom just now for arraignment: \u201cThey will never shut me up, they\u2019ll have to kill me first.\u201d\u201d— Olivia Rubin (@Olivia Rubin) 1662660888
The reactions to the video were overwhelmingly positive and social media users applauded the slow and steady downfall of one of the more virulent racists to capture national attention in recent years.
\u201cThis is what happens when the chickens come home to roost!\nCouldn't happen to a more suitable person!\n\nTrump's corrupt pardon carries no weight here!\n\nHope they have strong detergents in prison!\n#ONEV1\u201d— Warren Macleod (@Warren Macleod) 1662695358
\u201cBecause everything sucks right now, please enjoy this moment of Steve Bannon in handcuffs.\u201d— Randi Mayem Singer (@Randi Mayem Singer) 1662665209
\u201cWhat a beautiful sight, Bannon in cuffs!\u201d— Kercle \ud83d\udc99 (@Kercle \ud83d\udc99) 1662672184
\u201cWhat a joyous sight. \n\nBannon doing the perp walk.\u201d— Elinor Elliot (@Elinor Elliot) 1662675474
\u201cWatching Steve Bannon get led away in cuffs is just...well if you think you liked the Four Seasons Landscaping press conference, you're gonna LOVE seeing this bloviating fart get arrested.\u201d— Holly Figueroa O'Reilly (@Holly Figueroa O'Reilly) 1662685442
\u201cBwhahahaha \u201cI have not yet begun to fight!\u201d Oh.\u201d— Jack Hopkins (@Jack Hopkins) 1662667976
\u201cThere is something remarkably satisfying about seeing Steve Bannon in handcuffs.\u201d— Matt McDermott (@Matt McDermott) 1662673157
\u201c\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02 imagine defrauding Trump supporters then posturing like you\u2019re a hero to the same people you defrauded\u201d— Secular Talk\ud83c\udf99 (@Secular Talk\ud83c\udf99) 1662664946
\u201cSteve Bannon walking down a hallway in handcuffs makes my day, I just wait until it\u2019s Donald Trump.\u201d— Blue Boomer\ud83c\udf0a\u262e\ufe0f-2\ud83e\uddd3\ud83c\udffc4 BS\ud83d\udc02\ud83d\udca9-Boosted\ud83d\udc89 -\ud83d\udc15Mom (@Blue Boomer\ud83c\udf0a\u262e\ufe0f-2\ud83e\uddd3\ud83c\udffc4 BS\ud83d\udc02\ud83d\udca9-Boosted\ud83d\udc89 -\ud83d\udc15Mom) 1662665470
Bannon has been dealing with legal troubles for some time.
He was charged with contempt of Congess for refusing to cooperate with a House investigation into the January 6 insurrection, a fact he has claimed is evidence of a smear plot against him.
The House Select Committee believes Bannon has useful information crucial to the investigation, in particular relating to his involvement in a meeting with Trump allies at a Washington hotel the evening before the attack.
Prosecutors had earlier criticized Bannon, saying he was trying to make his case a trial by media “rather than in court,” comments that came after Bannon’s defense requested the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s office unseal all evidence in the case, including grand jury testimony.
In July 2022, Bannon was convicted in a jury trial on both counts, which each carry a minimum of 30 days to a maximum of one year of incarceration as well as a $100–100,000 fine.
