Bannon asked Trump DOJ to reimburse his legal fees from Russia probe: report

Stephen Bannon asked former President Trump’s Department of Justice to reimburse his legal fees stemming from the agency’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, Business Insider reported on Tuesday.

According to documents Business Insider obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, the one-time chief White House strategist asked to be reimbursed $1 million in legal fees he racked up in connection with the probe.

A source familiar with the matter told Business Insider that the denial decision was made by Brian Boynton, the acting head of the Justice Department’s civil division.

Bannon’s defense lawyer, William Burck, had written to the department on New Year’s Eve to inquire about it reimbursing legal fees, stating, “It is our understanding that the White House supports reimbursing Mr. Bannon’s attorneys’ fees.”

“We are in the process of obtaining a written statement confirming the White House’s agreement and will provide it to you as soon as possible,” Burck wrote. 

The Hill has reached out to Burck for comment.

Bannon racked up the legal fees between between 2018 and 2020, according to Business Insider. In January 2018, Burck reportedly billed him for 10 hours in connection with an interview before the House Intelligence Committee.

Bannon was also billed $420,000 for legal expenses for appearances before special counsel Robert Mueller’s team in February 2018. 

The news outlet also reported Burck’s law firm Quinn Emanuel billed Bannon for preparing to testify against informal Trump adviser Roger Stone in November 2019.

Stone was convicted of lying to Congress in connection with its investigation into Russian interference, witness tampering and obstruction of an official proceeding. Trump commuted Stone’s sentence last July and later pardoned him in December.

Bannon was also facing charges of defrauding donors through an online crowdfunding campaign called “We Build The Wall,” which raised $25 million. Bannon was specifically accused of embezzling $1 million from the scheme, and said the money was being used toward the construction of Trump’s border wall.

Trump granted Bannon clemency in December over the charges, and a federal judge dismissed the case against Bannon late last month.