Steve Bannon, a former adviser to US President Donald Trump, has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in relation to a fundraising campaign for the building of the US-Mexico border wall.
Federal prosecutors alleged Mr Bannon and three others “orchestrated a scheme to defraud hundreds of thousands of donors” in connection with an online crowdfunding campaign called "We Build The Wall".
The campaign raised more than $25 million (Dh91.8m) to build a barrier along the southern border of the US, lawyer Audrey Strauss said.
Despite portraying “We Build the Wall” as a volunteer organisation, Mr Bannon received more than $1m from the group, some of which was used to pay for his personal expenses, prosecutors said.
Hours after his arrest, Mr Bannon, 66, pleaded not guilty during an appearance in a Manhattan federal court.
“As alleged, the defendants defrauded hundreds of thousands of donors, capitalising 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,” Ms Strauss said.
Defendants defrauded hundreds of thousands of donors, capitalising on their interest in funding a border wall to raise millions of dollars
We Build The Wall founders Brian Kolfage, Andrew Badolato and Timothy Shea were also indicted.
Mr Kolfage, who prosecutors described as the public face and founder of the operation, received thousands of dollars that he used to fund a lavish lifestyle.
He is due to appear in federal court in Florida on Thursday.
The other two defendants are due to appear in courts in the Middle District of Florida and Colorado.
Mr Bannon, 66, served as the chief executive of Mr Trump’s presidential campaign and was the architect of his populist strategy.
The former leader of Breitbart News helped Mr Trump to increase his appeal among the far right, often prompting accusations of racism and conspiracy-mongering.
In the White House, Mr Bannon was a leading proponent of the administration’s efforts to ban travel from a group of Muslim-majority countries.
But his tenure in the administration was a rocky one.
Opponents accused him of leaking to the media and haphazard efforts to root out “deep state” opponents of the administration.
Coverage suggesting that he was using outsize influence to manipulate the president quickly drew Mr Trump’s ire.
Mr Bannon was sacked seven months into his role during the controversy over Mr Trump’s handling of the violence that erupted at white supremacist protests in Charlottesville.
He applauded the president’s strategy to voice support for some of the demonstrators protesting against the removal of Confederate statues, who marched with people chanting Nazi slogans.
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The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
Get inspired
Here are a couple of Valentine’s Day food products that may or may not go the distance (but have got the internet talking anyway).
Sourdough sentiments: Marks & Spencer in the United Kingdom has introduced a slow-baked sourdough loaf dusted with flour to spell out I (heart) you, at £2 (Dh9.5). While it’s not available in the UAE, there’s nothing to stop you taking the idea and creating your own message of love, stencilled on breakfast-inbed toast.
Crisps playing cupid: Crisp company Tyrells has added a spicy addition to its range for Valentine’s Day. The brand describes the new honey and chilli flavour on Twitter as: “A tenderly bracing duo of the tantalising tingle of chilli with sweet and sticky honey. A helping hand to get your heart racing.” Again, not on sale here, but if you’re tempted you could certainly fashion your own flavour mix (spicy Cheetos and caramel popcorn, anyone?).
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
Cracks in the Wall
Ben White, Pluto Press
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
