Sam Bankman-Fried’s Lawyers Seek Expanded Questioning in Trial
The defense team representing Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced founder of FTX, is requesting an expanded scope for questioning the prosecution’s witnesses in the ongoing trial. The defense has expressed concerns about restrictions on their ability to ask certain questions that would help build a case for their client. They are seeking more flexibility in cross-examination to explore defense theories and are also pushing to prevent the prosecution from relying on lay witnesses for expert testimony.
Defense Aims to Protect Bankman-Fried’s Image
The defense’s request comes after several witnesses testified about instances where they were instructed by Bankman-Fried to mislead investors, clients, and auditors regarding FTX’s health and its relationship with Alameda Research. By shaping the upcoming witness testimonies, the defense aims to prevent further damage to Bankman-Fried’s image before the jury. This strategy is intended to counteract victim testimony, which tends to make jurors more sympathetic towards the government’s case.
Argument Over Compliance with Terms of Service
In addition, the defense is challenging one of the key pillars of the prosecution’s case by arguing that FTX adhered to its terms of service and therefore cannot be accused of fraud. They claim that this is a valid defense in fraud cases, asserting that FTX complied with its own contractual terms. However, prosecutors have rejected this argument, stating that it is “simply wrong” and providing evidence of Bankman-Fried misusing client funds and misrepresenting FTX’s handling of them.
Narrow Options for Bankman-Fried’s Defense Team
Legal experts suggest that Bankman-Fried’s defense team faces an uphill battle in securing an acquittal. With multiple charges and theories to contend with, the defense must successfully challenge each one, while the prosecution only needs to prove a single theory to secure a conviction. This discrepancy in burden of proof gives prosecutors more maneuverability in their case against Bankman-Fried.
Hot Take: Defense Strategy Aimed at Protecting Bankman-Fried
The defense’s request for expanded questioning and efforts to shape upcoming witness testimonies demonstrate their goal of protecting Sam Bankman-Fried’s image and countering victim testimony. By seeking more flexibility in cross-examination and challenging the prosecution’s reliance on lay witnesses, the defense aims to weaken the government’s case against their client. However, legal experts suggest that Bankman-Fried’s defense team faces significant challenges in securing an acquittal due to the multiple charges and theories they must successfully challenge.
By
By
By
By
