Bankman-Fried Denies Attempting to Intimidate Witnesses in Trial
Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX crypto exchange, has stated that he did not try to intimidate witnesses ahead of his upcoming trial. Prosecutors had requested that Bankman-Fried be jailed after a diary written by his former girlfriend, Caroline Ellison, suggested he had attempted to intimidate her. Bankman-Fried’s lawyer argued that his client’s contact with a New York Times reporter was simply a exercise of his right to fair comment on an ongoing article. The defense also raised concerns about restricted internet access if Bankman-Fried were to be jailed, hindering his trial preparation.
Key Points:
- Bankman-Fried denies attempting to intimidate witnesses in his trial
- Prosecutors had requested that he be jailed based on diary excerpts
- Bankman-Fried’s lawyer argues that his contact with the press was within his rights
- FTX filed for bankruptcy protection in November
- Bankman-Fried has been living under house arrest on a $250 million bond
In conclusion, Bankman-Fried maintains his innocence and denies any attempt to intimidate witnesses in his trial. His defense team argues that his contact with the press was protected by his rights and that jailing him would raise First Amendment issues. The trial is set to begin in October.