Name: Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon was cruising the Connecticut coast on mega yacht when federal agents charged him Thursday morning with embezzling border wall money
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Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon was cruising the Connecticut coast on mega yacht when federal agents charged him Thursday morning with embezzling border wall money

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AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantAug 20, 2020 at 6:49 pmSteve Bannon, former senior adviser to President Donald Trump, was pulled from a mega yacht off the Connecticut coast early Thursday and charged in what federal prosecutors said was a scheme to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars from a fundraising campaign for one of Trump’s top projects: construction of a wall along the border with Mexico.The U.S. Coast Guard collected Bannon from the 151-foot, $28 million yacht at about 7 a.m., within sight of the beach houses in Westbrook. Hours later, he was in handcuffs in federal district court in Manhattan, where he pleaded not guilty to accusations that he and two others siphoned money from an on-line fundraising effort for the border wall. After promising the money would be devoted exclusively to the wall, Bannon is accused of diverting nearly a million dollars for personal expenses.AdvertisementThe fraud charges against Trump’s former chief strategist and the two others are outlined in a federal indictment unsealed in New York Thursday. Bannon pleaded not guilty by video conference from a holding cell. Afterward, he was released on $5 million bail, secured by $1.75 million in assets.In the meantime, The Lady May — owned by exiled Chinese billionaire and Bannon business associate Guo Wengui — had become something of a mystery among the marinas and beach houses of Westbrook, after it dropped anchor off the town beach — one vacationer said — Sunday night. Thursday afternoon, beach goers were packing binoculars with their floats and lounge chairs for a better view.Advertisement“It’s been lit up every night like I don’t know what,” one of the sunbathers said.Not long after noon Tuesday, the yacht steamed in circles briefly before disappearing behind Duck Island and heading west toward New Haven and New York.The “We Build The Wall” crowd-sourcing fundraiser was led by men who claimed close ties to President Trump, an apparent effort to lend credibility to the campaign. They reportedly raised more than $25 million at a time when plans to direct government money to the wall have been held up by lawsuits.The indictment contends much of the donated money ended up with members of the group running the campaign. In addition to paying off personal expenses, Bannon is accused of secretly paying co-defendant Brian Kolfage, the founder of the project.Trump on Thursday told reporters that he knew nothing about the fund-raising campaign and never supported financing the wall through private means.“I thought that was a project being done for showboating reasons,” he said.White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said Trump “has not been involved with Steve Bannon since the campaign and the early part of the administration, and he does not know the people involved with this project.”The case against Bannon and the others was made by U.S. Postal Inspectors and the U.S. Attorney’s office for the southern district of New York, which has been aggressive in its examination of Trump’s affairs.Advertisement“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to identifying and investigating anyone who exploits others for their own benefits,‘’ Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale said.As it happensGet the latest updates on Coronavirus and other breaking news events happening across Connecticut &gt; A spokesman said the U.S. Coast Guard station in New London, a dozen miles east of Westbrook, assisted in Bannon’s arrest.“The Coast Guard did assist federal agents to effect the arrest of Mr. Steve Bannon,” Coast Guard Petty Officer Anthony Pappaly said Thursday. “The Coast Guard provided the platform at sea and conducted the initial safety sweep of the vessel.”The Lady May is for sale for $27.9 million. Boat International, which describes itself as “the Superyacht and Luxury yacht guide,” gushed that the Lady May is “one of the most outstanding yachts of her size ever built.” It accommodates 10 guests in five cabins and gets about 3,000 nautical miles when its fuel tanks are topped off.Boat International reports: “The interior is an elegant blend of white marble, bleached oak, stainless, and Macassar ebony that creates a modern yet warm and welcoming environment. The large windows allowing plenty of natural light in the saloon and the cleverly designed rotating seating area allows guests to maximize the stunning views.”The Wall Street Journal that Bannon and Guo “have been spending significant time together on Mr. Guo’s yacht.” The two men have been linked to GTV Media Group, a private company under federal investigation for its efforts to raise corporate funds through private stock placements.AdvertisementWith Bannon’s arrest, he joins other Trump associates who have been charged, among them former campaign chair Paul Manafort, whom Bannon replaced; lawyer Michael Cohen, and former national security adviser Michael Flynn.An Associated Press report was included in this story. Courant Staff Writer David Owens contributed to this story. Advertisement

AdvertisementBy Hartford CourantAug 20, 2020 at 6:49 pmSteve Bannon, former senior adviser to President Donald Trump, was pulled from a mega yacht off the Connecticut coast early Thursday and charged in what federal prosecutors said was a scheme to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars from a fundraising campaign for one of Trump’s top projects: construction of a wall along the border with Mexico.The U.S. Coast Guard collected Bannon from the 151-foot, $28 million yacht at about 7 a.m., within sight of the beach houses in Westbrook. Hours later, he was in handcuffs in federal district...

Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon was cruising the Connecticut coast on mega yacht when federal agents charged him Thursday morning with embezzling border wall money

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