Bannon expected to face trial for private border wall scheme in November 2023

A New York judge has indicated that conservative activist and media figure Steve Bannon will likely face trial in November of 2023 over his involvement in a crowdfunding campaign to privately construct a border wall between the United States and Mexico.

Judge Juan Manuel Merchan made the pronouncement Tuesday, per The Hill, meaning the plethora of donors who contributed to the effort will wait more than another year for a resolution to claims that Bannon defrauded them.

Bannon faces state level charges after former President Donald Trump issued a federal pardon to Bannon, per the outlet. The former Breitbart editor-in-chief was a key figure in the "We Build the Wall" crowdfunding campaign. 

They claimed that the funds would exclusively go toward construction of a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico, but prosecutors allege that considerable sums went to the group president's salary and to other expenses, of the more than $15 million the endeavor raised.

"As alleged, Stephen Bannon acted as the architect of a multi-million dollar scheme to defraud thousands of donors across the country – including hundreds of Manhattan residents," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. said in a joint statement with New York Attorney General Letitia James.

"Mr. Bannon took advantage of his donors' political views to secure millions of dollars which he then misappropriated. Mr. Bannon lied to his donors to enrich himself and his friends. We will continue to take on fraudulent behavior in every corner of society, including white collar criminals, because no one is above the law," James added.

James has faced accusations of "weaponizing her office" against conservatives from former President Donald Trump, against whom the state's top prosecutor launched a civil fraud case last month.

"Another Witch Hunt by a racist Attorney General, Letitia James, who failed in her run for Governor, getting almost zero support from the public, and now is doing poorly against Law & Order A.G. candidate, highly respected Michael Henry," the former president said of that suit.