The criminal trial against Steve Bannon is scheduled for May next year

Stephen K. Bannon, a longtime adviser to former President Donald J. Trump, is scheduled to go on trial in May next year for what prosecutors say was his role in defrauding Americans who paid money to build a southern border wall , a judge said Thursday.

The judge, Juan M. Merchan, said that while the May 27, 2024, trial was later than he expected — he had originally considered a date in November — he was happy with the schedule proposed by Mr. Bannon’s lawyers, as long as the prosecutors with the Manhattan district attorney’s office were pleased. A prosecutor, Daniel Passeser, said it was.

The date means Mr Trump himself will face trial two months earlier than his former adviser, if both cases go ahead as planned.

Prosecutors say Mr Bannon played a key role in an organization called We Build the Wall, which raised millions of dollars from its pledge to build the oft-promised border wall.

Mr. Trump is being charged in an unrelated case. District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg has accused him of orchestrating a series of false documents to cover up a hush money payment paid to a porn star on his behalf during his first presidential campaign. The date of Mr Trump’s trial, March 25, 2024, was announced earlier this week. Judge Merchan is also presiding over that case.

Mr Bannon faces five felony counts, including money laundering and conspiracy, and could face a maximum sentence of five to 15 years for the most serious charge.

He had been indicted by federal prosecutors in 2020 for conduct related to the border wall project, but was pardoned by Mr. Trump before the case could go to trial. Because the pardon came before a trial, the Constitution’s constitution to prosecute the same case twice — known as double threat — didn’t stop district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, from filing the new charge.

Mr Bannon was represented at Thursday’s hearing by three lawyers: John Carman, Susan Carman and Harlan Protass. They must file any motions in the case by Oct. 6. Prosecutors must respond by January 5, and Judge Merchan will determine the outcome of the motions on April 29.

As he left the courthouse, Mr. Bannon was asked Wednesday night about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his presidential campaign rollout on Twitter, which was marred by technical errors. Mr Bannon, who remains loyal to Mr Trump, said the rollout had been a “complete disaster” and Twitter owner Elon Musk was also a “complete disaster”.