NY Law Firm, Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, Sue Former WH Strategist Steve Bannon for Unpaid Legal Fees

Edited by: Fern Sidman

Former chief strategist to Donald J. Trump, Stephen K. Bannon, has been ordered by a judge to pay nearly $500,000 in unpaid legal fees to the New York firm, Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP. The New York Times reported that this development comes as Bannon faces a series of legal challenges stemming from his involvement in the “We Build the Wall” campaign. The recent judgment highlights the ongoing legal battles surrounding Bannon and underscores the consequences of his actions.

The NYT recently reported that in one of his last acts as president, Donald Trump granted pardons to numerous individuals, including Bannon, who had been charged with conspiring to defraud donors in relation to the “We Build the Wall” initiative. However, the attorneys who helped secure his freedom have now won a judgment against him for approximately $500,000 in unpaid legal fees. The New York law firm, Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP, filed a lawsuit against Bannon in February, claiming that he had paid only $375,000 of the $850,000 in legal fees incurred over two years, the report indicated.

The recent order against Bannon is just one of several legal challenges he has faced in recent years, the NYT reported. The law firm represented him during an investigation by the former Manhattan district attorney into Trump. Additionally, they helped Bannon fight a subpoena from the congressional committee that investigated the January 6th protest at the US Capitol building in Washington and represented him in criminal contempt proceedings when he defied it, as was reported by the NYT.

The Associated Press reported that Bannon was sentenced to four months in prison for defying the subpoena, but he remains free while he awaits a decision on an appeal.

New York based Judge Arlene P. Bluth ruled in favor of Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP, in her six-page order released this week, stating that Bannon must pay the firm what he owed, plus 1 percent interest. The NYT report said she also ordered him to cover the “reasonable legal fees” incurred during the lawsuit.

The AP report indicated that Bannon argued that he told the firm’s attorneys to stop working for him in early 2022, months before he stopped paying his bills. He also claimed that the firm did not properly alert him of the payments by failing to send the invoices to his various addresses.

Judge Bluth rejected both arguments, writing that Bannon “cannot receive the benefit of plaintiff’s legal representation and then insist he need not pay for it,” the AP reported.

In response, Jeffrey Citron, a managing partner at the law firm, expressed the intention to exhaust all possible avenues to collect the outstanding payment. The Associated Press reported on Wednesday that Citron said it was unfortunate that Bannon forced the firm to take legal action despite receiving “excellent representation.”

“The firm intends to pursue every opportunity to collect our fees,” Citron added.

The NYT also reported that Bannon’s current lawyer, Harlan Protass, has stated their intention to appeal the judge’s decision, claiming it was erroneous.

Bannon’s pardon raised concerns among government watchdog groups, critics of Trump, and even some of his allies. The NYT reported that prosecutors accused Bannon of misappropriating over $1 million from donors who believed their funds were going toward constructing a wall along the Mexican border. The “We Build the Wall” campaign raised more than $25 million, but a significant portion was allegedly misused by its founders, including Bannon.

Despite the pardon, Bannon’s legal troubles continue. The NYT reported that on September, he pleaded not guilty to state charges in Manhattan that resemble the federal case. The charges include two counts of money laundering, two counts of conspiracy, and one count of a scheme to defraud. If convicted on the most serious charge, he could face a maximum sentence of five to 15 years, the report indicated. Bannon’s lawyer previously requested to withdraw from the case, citing a breakdown in communication.

As Bannon continues to battle legal charges, the consequences of his actions may have far-reaching implications, affecting not only his personal and financial well-being but also the public perception of his involvement in controversial campaigns and political activities.