Cohen & Gresser Argues against SBF’s Detention
Cohen & Gresser, the law firm representing former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), has defended their client against claims of intimidation and jury tampering. SBF, who is facing several fraud charges related to the collapse of FTX, shared excerpts from Caroline Ellison’s diary to highlight her psychological state before the catastrophe.
Key Points:
- The US Department of Justice (DOJ) sought SBF’s detention, claiming that his actions could have influenced Ellison, a potential witness in his trial.
- Cohen & Gresser sent a letter to the judge arguing that SBF’s contact with a New York Times reporter was within his rights to comment on an ongoing article.
- They emphasized that the government’s basis for revoking SBF’s bail was weak and relied on assumptions and unsupported inferences.
- The law firm argued that detaining SBF would hinder his ability to participate in his defense and access crucial discovery materials.
- Ellison, SBF’s ex-girlfriend and former leader of Alameda Research, pleaded guilty to participating in the fraud that caused FTX’s collapse.
Leaked Diary Excerpts Reveal Ellison’s State of Mind
The leaked diary excerpts published by The New York Times showed that Ellison was unhappy and overwhelmed with her job at Alameda Research leading up to the FTX crash. She had also expressed doubts about her abilities and decreased enthusiasm following her breakup with SBF.
Hot Take:
The defense’s argument that SBF’s actions were within his rights to make fair comment on an ongoing article may have some merit. However, sharing private diary entries to highlight someone’s psychological state could be seen as crossing a line. The outcome of the trial and the potential punishments for both SBF and Ellison remain uncertain, but their actions have undoubtedly had significant repercussions in the crypto world.
