Attorneys defending Steve Bannon against charges he cheated contributors to a privately funded southern border wall out of millions of dollars asked a judge on Thursday to withdraw from his case, citing “irreconcilable differences.”
The prosecutors and the judge presiding over Bannon’s case voiced frustrations about his refusal to speak directly to his previously selected legal counsel, saying that it risks delaying the progress over the matter since his September arraignment on charges of money laundering, scheme to defraud, and conspiracy.
David Schoen, one of Bannon’s lawyers, asked New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan to let him and another lawyer, John Mitchell, stop representing Bannon during the Thursday hearing in Manhattan state court.
BANNON ARRIVES IN NEW YORK CRIMINAL COURT FOR HEARING OVER ‘WE BUILD THE WALL’ SCHEME
“There has been a breakdown in direct communications between Mr. Bannon and his attorneys,” Schoen said, telling the judge that Bannon “is refusing to engage with his counsel.” The pair of attorneys also said Bannon had started speaking to a third lawyer who has represented him on other matters.
The judge offered Bannon a deadline and an ultimatum in his case, to either choose new legal representation before his next court date on Feb. 28 or return to court with his current attorneys. If he doesn’t meet the deadline with a new legal defense team, the judge would appoint one for him.
Schoen and Mitchell have represented Bannon, the short-term White House chief strategist for former President Donald Trump, since his first hearing in the case last summer. Trump pardoned Bannon on his last day as president in a federal case that focused on the project, We Build the Wall, but a presidential pardon does not shield Bannon from state or local charges.
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Following the hearing, Schoen said he and Mitchell had disagreements with Bannon on how to formulate their defense. “It’s cordial — we’re very friendly … We just disagree about the case,” Schoen said, according to Business Insider.
The nonprofit group set up by Bannon raised $15 million from thousands of donations across the country on the false promise of helping to build the southern border wall promoted by Trump, prosecutors alleged in a September indictment. Prosecutors further accused Bannon of taking the money and laundering it through third-party entities to pay people running the organization.
