FTX Founder Bankman-Fried Appeals Fraud Conviction Over Judge's Conduct
Sam Bankman-Fried's legal team files an appeal seeking a new trial, arguing that the presiding judge showed severe bias during the high-profile FTX case.
Sam Bankman-Fried officially appeals his fraud and money laundering conviction, requesting a new trial under a different judge. His legal team argues that U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan makes rulings that are not just erroneous but unbalanced throughout the high-profile proceedings.
The appeal claims that Judge Kaplan continually ridicules Bankman-Fried during the trial, repeatedly criticizes his demeanor, and signals his disbelief of the defendant's testimony. Furthermore, the filing alleges that the judge repeatedly mocks defense counsel while actively helping the prosecution make its case.
Bankman-Fried currently serves a 25-year prison sentence in Brooklyn and faces $11 billion in forfeiture following the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX. The U.S. attorney’s office that prosecutes the case states it does not plan to comment on this latest legal filing.