‘We Build the Wall’ leaders who worked with Bannon plead guilty to fraud
“We Build the Wall” campaign crowd-funders Brian Kolfage and Andrew Badolato pleaded guilty Thursday for their roles in pocketing donations solicited to help build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico.
Kolfage, 39, and Badolato, 57, each pleaded guilty in federal court in New York City to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Kolfage, a triple-amputee Air Force veteran, also pleaded guilty to tax and wire fraud charges.
The two men worked alongside Steve Bannon, who was the chief White House strategist during the Trump administration and was also indicted in connection with orchestrating the wall crowdfunding effort. Bannon pleaded not guilty and was later pardoned by then-President Donald Trump. [Continue reading…]