Just earlier the transgression proceedings against Sam Bankman-Fried begins today, his defence squad has filed several requests asking the justice to reconsider oregon clarify immoderate of his caller rulings that bounds what grounds and arguments they tin present.
In a missive dated Oct. 2, Bankman-Fried’s lawyers contested the judge’s determination to barroom them from arguing that cryptocurrency speech FTX was not regulated successful the U.S. and followed applicable rules for its U.S. arm, FTX US. The defence argues this constituent is applicable to whether funds were misappropriated and Bankman-Fried’s intent. They accidental the evident deficiency of laws prohibiting however crypto exchanges tin usage lawsuit deposits supports that the alleged behaviour was not illegal.
The defence besides opposed the justice prohibiting grounds astir assets recovered truthful acold successful FTX’s ongoing bankruptcy proceedings. They accidental if the prosecution claims customers won’t beryllium repaid, the defence should beryllium allowed to refute this by arguing the bankruptcy has been mismanaged. The justice antecedently denied a prosecution petition to barroom grounds of Bankman-Fried’s alleged bully religion content that helium was gathering lawsuit obligations.
In addition, Bankman-Fried’s squad asked the justice to clarify the scope of his ruling prohibiting them from bringing up “prior bully acts” similar foundation to amusement character. They enactment the prosecution itself referenced Bankman-Fried’s charitable contributions successful his indictment. The defence says they should beryllium allowed to sermon philanthropy if applicable to the events successful the lawsuit alternatively than arsenic propensity evidence.
The lawyers besides requested clarification connected whether prosecutors tin reason run contributions Bankman-Fried allegedly routed done straw donors were illegal. The justice antecedently excluded projected adept grounds connected run concern laws.
Bankman-Fried’s attorneys besides argued against permitting a lawsuit successful Ukraine impacted by Russia’s penetration to attest remotely. They accidental this would interruption Bankman-Fried’s close to look his accusers, arsenic Ukraine has nary extradition pact with the U.S. The defence besides contends the unsocial circumstances of this witnesser testifying from a warfare portion would unfairly elicit assemblage sympathy.
Jury enactment starts today, Oct. 3, with opening arguments expected adjacent week. Bankman-Fried faces charges of ligament fraud, wealth laundering, and conspiracy for allegedly misusing FTX lawsuit funds earlier the crypto speech collapsed past year. He has pleaded not guilty.
The station SBF Trial: Lawyers record past ditch requests to justice including barring Ukrainian testimony appeared archetypal connected CryptoSlate.