Judge dismisses indictment against ex-Trump strategist Steve Bannon

Washington — A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed an indictment against Steve Bannon, former chief strategist to President Donald Trump, that accused him of taking part in a scheme to defraud donors to a crowdfunding campaign to build a wall along the southern border.

U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres granted the request from Bannon over opposition from federal prosecutors, who requested the court instead remove Bannon as a defendant in the case. Bannon was one of the 74 people who received a pardon from Mr. Trump just before he left office in January. Torres dismissed the indictment against Bannon based on his presidential pardon, calling it the "proper course" as the majority of courts have chosen to toss out an indictment when faced with a decision on whether to do so.