Steve Bannon, or “Sloppy Steve” as Trump has been known to call him when he’s out of favor with the Mango Messiah went and stiffed his lawyer for a half-million bucks. Robert Costello, not being a hack decided he wanted his money so he’s sued to collect. Bannon like others loses sight of a sad truth which is that virtually no one but Trump gets away with all the crap Trump gets away with most of the time or he wouldn’t be in this mess. But he is and his current lawyer suggested in a legal filing that turning over bank statements asked for in discovery would violate Steve-O’s 5th Amendment rights!
Yep, you read that correctly. According to Raw Story this morning Bannon, already in hot water for financial fraud in New York is saying (via his lawyer) that providing discovery in the form of his bank statements might expose him to more financial fraud crimes. Or at the very least bolster his already existing problems on that front. Seems almost like instead of “there’s gold in them thar hills” Bannon’s lawyer Harlan Protass is saying “there’s fraud in them thar bank statements!” From Raw Story:
For his part, Bannon has asked a judge to keep Costello’s law firm from reviewing his bank statements, with Pagliery writing, “a request that has required Bannon to awkwardly concede that his personal finances likely have evidence that could bolster the Manhattan District Attorney’s case against him,” involving fraudulent fundraising to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico.
Protass claims “DHC’s taking of post-judgment discovery from Mr. Bannon poses a significant risk of compromising Mr. Bannon’s Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.”
Well, that doesn’t sound too good. In fact it sounds like under those multiple shirts Bannon famously wears all the time there are some skeletons he’s desperate to keep hidden. Hey, I don’t want to have to look under those shirts myself, but someone has to and I’m grateful that someone isn’t me. However, this is one of those times when someone has to do it and Bannon is fighting like hell to keep it from happening:
As the Beast’s Pagliery explained, “Protass also argued that subjecting Bannon to questions under oath from the aggrieved law firm’s attorneys ‘also poses a significant risk’ for the same reason: he might say something damning that could bolster two ongoing criminal cases against him.”
Gee, you think? Remember folks this is part of a legal filing! If the DA doesn’t already have those bank records I think it’s a safe bet a subpoena backed by the full weight of the criminal justice system in New York is coming. Soon, as in probably before close of business today! Lest we forget Bannon has other troubles. He’s been sentenced to four months in prison for Contempt of Congress but is out on bail pending appeal.
Why he ghosted his original lawyer is a mystery. Probably too much Trump rubbed off on him and he figured he too could get away with that kind of crap. Costello, a former federal prosecutor has over the years had some “issues” of his own (this gives you a taste) and has a significant history with Bannon. You’d think Bannon would have wanted to stay on his good side and it’s not like Bannon didn’t have the means to pay his bills.
However, Bannon decided he was too special to have to do mundane stuff like pay his freaking lawyers, again I believe because he saw how much Trump got away with that kind of thing and figured “If HE can get away with it then so can I.” It looks like that half-million Bannon decided to save himself is now haunting him. “Bigly.” In fact, it looks like it’s going to take a much, much bigger bite out of his smug ass!
Frankly, if I were Harlan Protass I’d be demanding (if he wasn’t smart enough to have done so in the first place) a big, fat multi-million dollar retainer or I’d walk just like Costello did. With criminal problems in both NYC and DC Bannon needs lawyers. Good ones. The thing about lawyers is that good ones damn well expect to get paid and paid well.
I’m starting my day with a smile thinking about how funny it would be if Protass walks too and Bannon is forced to get an Alina Habb caliber lawyer or even better a Public Defender, some overworked for not enough pay attorney right when he’s fighting to stay out of jail. In fact, I’m even wondering if prosecutors in DC are considering drafting a motion or two of their own? Maybe Bannon will wind up doing his stint in federal prison sooner than we think? It’s a fun thing to think about today…
Suuuiiiieee! Here pig! here pig! Suuuuiiiieeee!! Time for the slaughterhouse!
tRump’s E.Jean Carroll case is winding its way to a conclusion. Alina Habba may be available herself for little Stevie.
Unlike Trump, Bannon still has plenty of functioning brain cells. He doesn’t use them for good or noble purposes but they work all the same. Bannon knows he’s in some deep shit and he’s going to want a LOT better lawyer than Habba! But again, stiffing Costello for a half-mil is going to make any good lawyer demand a stiff retainer up-front. And, given some of his antics which aren’t at Trumpian levels but still stupid when a person’s already in the glue that retainer agreement will have an “out clause” allowing the lawyer/firm to walk with little or not financial penalty/payback. Karma can be cruel and few deserve to have a huge, cruel Karma enema more than Bannon does.
I’ve always thought Bannon was a scumbag , he always looks dirty , and unkempt.
ouldn’t happen to a more deserving guy. I agree: what makes this lawyer willing to take Hanson’s refusal.to.pay his original.lawyer.