Judge Kaplan Allows Witness to be Questioned Without Jury Present
Judge Lewis Kaplan, who has presided over high-profile trials involving figures such as Donald Trump and Al-Qaeda operatives, admitted that it’s been a long time since he allowed a witness to be questioned without the jury present. This decision was made due to ongoing disagreements between the defense and prosecution regarding the fairness of questioning Sam Bankman-Fried’s interactions with lawyers. Bankman-Fried faced questions from his own attorney and the lead prosecutor regarding FTX’s document retention policy, inter-company loans, and terms of service. Bankman-Fried’s testimony drew a large crowd, including author Michael Lewis and actor Ben McKenzie.
Bankman-Fried’s Testimony Raises Questions
During his testimony, Bankman-Fried invoked the role of FTX general counsel Daniel Friedberg in key business decisions but claimed ignorance about why certain decisions were made. He admitted to only skimming parts of the terms of service and having limited knowledge about certain aspects of FTX’s operations. Some questions posed by the prosecutor were objected to and ultimately thrown out by Judge Kaplan. Bankman-Fried’s behavior during the questioning raised eyebrows, as he fidgeted and gave meandering answers.
Judge Kaplan Considers Defense Argument
After both sides presented their arguments, Judge Kaplan seemed skeptical of the defense’s attempt to shift blame onto FTX attorneys. He used the analogy of someone robbing a bank and then using stolen money to buy a house, arguing that they cannot claim a lawyer approved of money laundering. The defense argued that their client took comfort from consultations with attorneys but did not assert a formal advice-of-counsel defense. Judge Kaplan will make a ruling on this matter when court resumes.
Defense Calls First Witnesses
The defense called its first two witnesses, Krystal Rolle and Joseph Pimbley. Rolle, a Bahamian lawyer, testified about Bankman-Fried’s behavior following orders to liquidate FTX’s assets. Pimbley, an expert witness, analyzed FTX’s database and codebase. Their testimonies set the stage for further questioning of Bankman-Fried by the defense. The trial is expected to conclude early next week.
Hot Take: Bankman-Fried’s Testimony Leaves Questions Unanswered
Despite facing intense questioning from both his own attorney and the lead prosecutor, Sam Bankman-Fried’s testimony in his trial on fraud and conspiracy charges left many questions unanswered. His evasive answers and lack of knowledge about certain aspects of FTX’s operations raised doubts about his level of involvement and awareness. The defense’s attempt to shift blame onto FTX attorneys also faces skepticism from Judge Kaplan. As the trial continues, it remains to be seen how these unanswered questions will impact the final verdict.
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