A viral video by the YouTube channel Wolves and Finance breaks down the prosecutions surrounding the “We Build the Wall” non-profit and argues that three men—Andy Badolato, Tim Shea, and Brian Kolfage—deserve presidential pardons.
WATCH:
The host explains that the mainstream media reduced the case to a simple “fraud” story involving Steve Bannon. In reality, Bannon was pardoned by President Trump in January 2021 and is not part of the current convictions. But his case, the video argues, was the test-run for a much larger “lawfare” campaign against conservatives.
According to Wolves and Finance, the prosecutions of Badolato, Shea, and Kolfage demonstrate:
- Unusual Jurisdiction: The men lived and worked in Arizona, Florida, and Colorado, but were tried in New York because the nonprofit’s bank was headquartered there. This stretches legal precedent and allows prosecutors to pull cases into favorable venues.
- Repeated Use of the Same Judges: Judges with histories of overseeing high-profile cases against Trump and his allies—such as Judge Juan Merchan—keep appearing, raising suspicions of bias.
- Tiny Alleged Mismanagement: Out of $25 million raised, only $350,000 was cited in the indictment. Most of the money went toward actually building the wall, a fraction of the cost government contractors charge.
- Lack of Criminal Intent: All three men were first-time offenders without criminal backgrounds. They were running a large nonprofit for the first time, making honest accounting mistakes far more likely than an elaborate scheme to “steal” such a small amount.
- Mistrial and Retrial: Tim Shea’s first trial ended in a mistrial—even with a Democrat-leaning jury. Prosecutors retried him and secured a conviction only on the second attempt, a tactic the host calls “trial by attrition.”
- Real Results Delivered: Nearly four miles of border wall were built at a fraction of government costs. This is not what a scam looks like; it’s evidence of good-faith execution.
- Humanitarian Crisis: Brian Kolfage, a triple-amputee Iraq War veteran, has endured harsh prison conditions and home confinement. He’s been denied proper medical accommodations, forced to wear a bulky ankle monitor on his one remaining arm, and suffers excruciating pain.
Call to Action: Talking Points for Presidential Pardons
- Stop Political Lawfare: These prosecutions were politically motivated test-cases later used against Donald Trump.
- Minimal Alleged Fraud: $350,000 out of $25 million does not justify years of prison time—especially when the wall was actually built.
- Good-Faith Effort: These were first-time nonprofit operators, not career criminals.
- Fairness and Venue: Holding the trial in New York stretched jurisdiction beyond common sense.
- Mistrial Abuse: Prosecutors retried Tim Shea after a mistrial, undermining basic fairness.
- Honor a Veteran: Brian Kolfage, a decorated war hero, is being subjected to cruel and unusual punishment.
The Wolves and Finance host ends with a plea to President Trump: “These men have already paid a heavy price. They built the wall. They acted in good faith. They deserve justice, not political persecution. Mr. President, please pardon Andy Badolato, Tim Shea, and Brian Kolfage.”