Steve Bannon’s lawyers tell New York judge he stopped talking to them in fiery court hearing

Trump adviser Steve Bannon appeared in a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday, where a judge questioned whether he was obstructing his lawyers to delay a criminal fraud case.

The incendiary right-wing strategist accused by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in September of money laundering in the We Build a Wall scam has not spoken to his lawyers in weeks.

In a heated Manhattan Supreme Court hearing, attorney David Schon told Judge Juan Mercan that the “outright disconnect” was due to a disagreement between Bannon and his attorneys about how they should approach his case, prepare it, and what defense theories they should use. chase.

Steve Bannon

Sean represented former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, and he nearly walked out on the eve of the closing debate. He said that Bannon had awkwardly communicated with him and his other lawyer, John Mitchell, through a third party and that he had contacted seven law firms looking to replace them during the holidays.

At one point, Sean and the usually level-headed Merchan got into a fight when the lawyer tried to legally disentangle himself from Bannon.

“I’m sorry you feel like you were dragged in here when you didn’t mean to,” Merchan said after a tense cutscene. “You and your client will be treated the same as everyone else in this courthouse.”

Merchan agreed to give Bannon until February 28 to find a new team.

Former U.S. Air Force veteran and Iraq War double amputee Brian Colphage (second from right) at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum. "salute service" Tribute to US Veterans, November 10, 2014

Assistant District Attorney Daniel Passeser said prosecutors gave Bannon virtually all of the evidence, including hundreds of thousands of emails. He argued that Bannon’s refusal to interact with his lawyers jeopardized the deadline set by the court, “making the last five months of the case worthless.”

Outside the courtroom, Bannon declined to answer questions about his dissatisfaction with the legal team, but said he would “never” go to jail and that the presidency of Brazil had been stolen from ex-president Jair Bolsonaro.

The political strategist declined to say whether he advised rioting efforts in support of Bolsonaro, who is currently holed up in Florida. Tensions in the Latin American country led to a chaotic uprising over the weekend that was similar to the U.S. Capitol uprising on January 6, 2021.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro

Bannon pleaded not guilty to two counts of money laundering, three counts of conspiracy and one count of fraud in his Manhattan case. We Build the Wall Inc. also charged.

The Manhattan district attorney alleges that Bannon was the architect of a multi-million dollar scam involving thousands of donors across the country and New York who thought they were sending money to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. Instead, donations to the foundation’s campaign chairman, Brian Kolfaj. The Air Force veteran and triple amputee pleaded guilty to federal charges last April.

Bannon had previously been charged with federal crimes related to the Colphage scheme and two others who have since been convicted, but Trump pardoned Bannon in his final hours as president.

In October, he was sentenced to four months in prison for refusing a subpoena from the House Committee to Investigate the Capitol Riots. He appeals.

Bannon faces up to 15 years if found guilty on the main count in his Manhattan case. The Foundation faces serious financial penalties.

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