Bankman-Fried Appeals Conviction, Claims Judicial Bias
Sam Bankman-Fried's appeal argues judicial bias and procedural errors compromised his trial, seeking to overturn his conviction and 25-year sentence.
Highlights:
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Former FTX CEO seeks new trial over alleged bias.
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Appeal cites procedural violations impacting defense.
Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has filed an appeal against his fraud conviction, alleging judicial bias and procedural violations during his trial.
The appeal, submitted to the 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, seeks a new trial and criticizes U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan for allegedly favoring the prosecution and restricting Bankman-Fried's ability to present a robust defense.
In a detailed 102-page document, Bankman-Fried's attorney, Alexandra A.E. Shapiro, argues that Judge Kaplan's rulings created an unfair trial environment, asserting that the judge "presumed guilt" rather than innocence.
The appeal highlights several specific grievances, including the judge's refusal to allow evidence suggesting that FTX customers might recover their funds through bankruptcy proceedings, which the defense claims distorted the narrative of permanent customer losses presented to the jury.
Additionally, the appeal raises concerns about the role of Sullivan & Cromwell, the law firm that represented FTX, alleging it acted as an extension of the prosecution by withholding evidence that could have aided Bankman-Fried's defense.
His legal team contends that these factors contributed to a trial that was "tainted" by bias, further complicating Bankman-Fried's efforts to overturn his 25-year prison sentence for orchestrating a scheme that misappropriated $8 billion in customer funds.
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