In late 2018, after President Donald Trump failed to negotiate funding for a wall at the southern border, Trump supporter and U.S. veteran Brian Kolfage launched a GoFundMe campaign called We Build the Wall, where people could donate funds to what Kolfage assured would go towards the wall's construction.
The GoFundMe raised over $25 million before it was retired.
Flash forward to this past Thursday, when Kolfage, former Trump advisor Steve Bannon, and two others were arrested for fraud, with federal prosecutors asserting that the four had used the GoFundMe to funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars to themselves.
Acting U.S. Attorney General for the Southern District of New York, Audrey Strauss said of Kolfage:
"While repeatedly assuring donors that Brian Kolfage, the founder and public face of We Build the Wall, would not be paid a cent, the defendants secretly schemed to pass hundreds of thousands of dollars to Kolfage, which he used to fund his lavish lifestyle. We thank the USPIS for their partnership in investigating this case, and we remain dedicated to rooting out and prosecuting fraud wherever we find it."
Over a year before the arrests, the GoFundMe raised red flags, with many wondering how privately generated funds could be allocated into a project funded by the U.S. government.
In a now-resurfaced tweet, Kolfage dismissed the concerns and bragged about the aptitude of his lawyers.
Every democrat who has targeted me and @WeBuildtheWall will all be left looking like morons, just like the “cease & desist' and the 'fraud & scam' and 'impossible to build' from day 1 we have the top non profit lawyer in the US, and we have one of the top construction law firms.
— Brian Kolfage (@BrianKolfage) June 4, 2019
We will continue to destroy everything you throw and our team will continue to win just as we have been. Only a fool would think we haven't done everything well above legal standard. Keep on donating guys! We won't stop and no one can stop us. https://t.co/0KPEKN9WtE
— Brian Kolfage (@BrianKolfage) June 4, 2019
In the wake of the men's arrests, people began ridiculing Kolfage's boasts.
😂🤣😂🤣😂
Who's the moron? https://t.co/uOtaEzqNqg pic.twitter.com/pXg6TkTh1N
— Deidre Eversull (@DeidreEversull) August 21, 2020
I can't help but say https://t.co/F6UfBUbWSf pic.twitter.com/JMeaY3QTfO
— kat 🏳️🌈 Folland (@KatFolland) August 21, 2020
I'll take “Tweets That Aged Like Six-Month-Old Cheese" for $500, Alex: https://t.co/Ur3OCkSSKc
— Will-o'-the-Wisp (@wharrison51) August 21, 2020
This thread is tragically hilarious. https://t.co/INAsdiu7qd
— B.A.Z (@TheDjinnerate) August 21, 2020
Wow, those Democrats really have egg on their face don't they.https://t.co/MxBREKoggR
— andrew kaczynski🤔 (@KFILE) August 21, 2020
Ok. Now you need some criminal defense lawyers. https://t.co/gPcCmhJPos
— curtis milam (@curtmilam) August 21, 2020
Kolfage's tweet isn't the only one not to have aged well. Others have uncovered videos of Bannon and Kolfage broadcasting from a yacht about the GoFundMe, and have connected allies of President Donald Trump to support of the effort.
Life came at Steve Bannon fast. pic.twitter.com/th0Kguh2FO
— The Recount (@therecount) August 21, 2020
Don, Jr. with MAGA crook Brian Kolfage pic.twitter.com/4njMW7zir7
— Daniel Uhlfelder (@DWUhlfelderLaw) August 20, 2020
Want to know why so few veterans are rallying around Brian Kolfage after his arrest? He's always been like this. He's been a racist and a con artist. He's taken free benefits from organizations while running fake news sites. Sues people for libel and hides behind his injuries. pic.twitter.com/5aX9oU1LUf
— Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) August 21, 2020
