Retired colonel on how Trump’s idea for 'Golden Dome' defense system could work
Britain pledges 600 million pounds to tackle construction skills shortages
Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff vows defiance to Trump ahead of 2026 election
Russian authorities bring in trains to fight oil depot fire
OpenAI, Meta in talks with Reliance for AI partnerships, The Information reports
Backlash continues against Elon Musk’s role with DOGE as demonstrations at Tesla showrooms enter fifth week
March Madness: No. 2 UConn routs Arkansas State 103-34 in opener as Fudd has 27 points
Sweet 16: Calipari guides Arkansas past Pitino, St. John's 75-66 for 16th trip to regional semifinal
McNeese's Will Wade signs a 6-year deal to become NC State coach, AP source says
By Luc Cohen
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon's lawyers and New York state prosecutors have discussed a potential plea deal to resolve charges over a push to fund the U.S. president's wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a person familiar with the matter said on Monday.
Bannon, 71, was charged by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office with money laundering and conspiracy for allegedly deceiving donors in 2019 who contributed more than $15 million to a private fundraising drive, known as "We Build the Wall", during Trump's first term.
Bannon had previously pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled for March 4, and a pre-trial conference is scheduled for Tuesday before Justice April Newbauer in New York state criminal court.
Legal trade publication Law360 reported earlier on Monday that Bannon plans to plead guilty, citing his defense lawyer John Carman.
"It is anticipated that Mr. Bannon will plead guilty tomorrow under an agreement with the district attorney and the court that he will not receive a sentence that includes any jail time," Carman was quoted as saying.
Neither Carman nor a spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorney's office immediately responded to requests for comment.
Construction of a border wall was a key element of Trump's immigration policies during his first presidency, supported by his fellow Republicans but opposed by immigrant advocacy groups.
Trump has again made cracking down on illegal immigration a centerpiece of his second term as president.
Bannon was an adviser to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, then served as his chief White House strategist in 2017 before a falling-out between them, which was later patched up. He also has played an instrumental role in right-wing media.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan brought similar charges against Bannon in 2020, but Trump pardoned him in his final hours in the White House the following year. Trump cannot pardon Bannon on Bragg's charges because they were brought at the state level.
(Reporting Luc Cohen in New York; Additional reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Stephen Coates)
