Steve Bannon, Trump’s former campaign manager, appeared in federal court in Manhattan on Thursday afternoon via video following his arrest for alleged siphoning of money from a money-laundering campaign to build the president’s controversial border wall with Mexico.
Bannon waived his right to appear in person before his first court appearance, in accordance with Covid-19-appointed security measures at the courthouse. As a result, press attendees attending Bannon’s arraignment saw him on a giant screen, in the jury’s room, sitting 6ft apart in red chairs.
The US law firm in Manhattan claims that Bannon ‘received more than $ 1 million from the online campaign’ We Build the Wall ‘, at least some of which houses thousands of dollars [his] personal expenses ”, through a non-profit he controlled.
Bannon, who was somewhere else in the courthouse, was visible from his torso up; he grabbed a light button-down shirt with thin vertical stripes and a white face mask.
Bannon, known for his unkempt dress sense, did not appear particularly restless as in the past; his hair was cropped and stranded, and his shirt was messy. His face appeared to be sunburned, which would make sense, given that he was arrested at 7:15 a.m. Thursday morning on a 150ft yacht off the coast of Connecticut.
On the video panel next to Bannon, Magistrate Judge Stewart Aaron appeared, leading the proceedings from a courtroom somewhere in the building. Bannon rocked back and forth and kept his eyes on the camera. On several occasions he leaned in so closely that his face took up much of the frame.
Aaron asked the suspect a string of questions.
“Mr Bannon, are you able to hear me OK?”
“Uh, yeah, I can,” Bannon replied. He used “your honor” when answering the judge’s following questions. One of Bannon’s lawyers did not plead guilty to any charges against him.
The procedure was short and calm, off-market for a man who has built his career on controversy. There was no fighting. In fact, prosecutors and defense attorneys have agreed to a bailout package prior to its arraignment: a $ 5 million bond, backed by $ 1.75 million in cash as real estate. Bannon has about two weeks to come up with this pledge. He is not allowed to travel on private planes, boats or yachts while on bail, the judge said.
The drama intensified outside, however, about two hours after Bannon’s proceedings ended. Before Bannon’s mask completely came out of his building, his hair flew to the side. With a round smile, he turned to the dozens of journalists waiting to see him away.
When Bannon drove to a black SUV waiting for him, he raised his hand, pointed finger outwards and aimed at the audience.
“This whole failure is to stop people wanting to build the wall,” Bannon said, before getting into the SUV.
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