Steve Bannon was arrested by federal prosecutors on Thursday, charged with defrauding hundreds of thousands of dollars from a fundraising scheme.
Bannon — a former chief strategist for President Donald Trump and head of Breitbart News — was among four men identified by the United States Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of New York as “leaders” of the “We Build the Wall” campaign, which brought in over $25 million.
The others arrested and charged were Brian Kolfage, Andrew Badolato and Timothy Shea. Shea has served as acting administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration since May. They are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, according to a release.
The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres.
Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a statement, “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. 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.”
The Best Twitter Memes on Steve Bannon's Removal From National Security Council (Photos)
A lot of people weren't happy when the Trump administration announced that Donald Trump's chief strategist, former Breitbart News editor-in-chief Steve Bannon, was taking a spot on the National Security Council. So when the news broke on Wednesday that Bannon was no longer a part of the council, many on Twitter rejoiced. Bannon's exit from the council may be "in no way a demotion" according to sources, but that didn't stop the memes and jokes.
There's speculation that Gary Busey is ready to step into Bannon's former role.
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There's no goofing on Bannon without referencing his alleged antisemitism, with a healthy dose of clowning the Trump administration's constant discussion of "fake news."
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With Bannon gone from the NSC, there's room for a different well-known alt-right mascot to take the seat.
Speculation is high as to what efforts Bannon will pursue now that his National Security Council obligations are over.
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Sometimes Twitter is great for learning the news, and sometimes the wires get a bit crossed. In fact, even separating Barry Manilow's news from Bannon's, it appeared plenty of people misunderstood. Many thought Bannon was being removed from the Trump administration. He still retains his job title and security clearance, however.
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Maybe Kendall Jenner's Pepsi ad really did heal the world!
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Some just wish that Bannon's exit from things would continue indefinitely.
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As many have pointed out, perhaps Bannon wasn't removed from the National Security Council. Maybe he was alternatively promoted.
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Or perhaps he must go because his planet needs him.
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Not everyone speculated about what's happening within the Trump administration and what Bannon's removal from the NSC means, though. Some are just content to watch and see what happens.
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Users are busting out the memes to make fun of the development
A lot of people weren't happy when the Trump administration announced that Donald Trump's chief strategist, former Breitbart News editor-in-chief Steve Bannon, was taking a spot on the National Security Council. So when the news broke on Wednesday that Bannon was no longer a part of the council, many on Twitter rejoiced. Bannon's exit from the council may be "in no way a demotion" according to sources, but that didn't stop the memes and jokes.