Prosecutors Slam FTX’s Bankman-Fried’s Defense Tactics

• Prosecutors have challenged the defense’s jury selection questions in the high-stakes case.
• Prosecutors have raised objections to mentions of ADHD, setting the stage for a contentious trial.
• The trial looms for SBF as the courtroom drama has intensified.

Prosecutors, embroiled in the legal battle against FTX’s former disgraced CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), have vehemently objected to the defense’s proposed inquiries for jury selection. In the docket, the co-founder faces a battery of seven fraud-related charges, including the alleged wire fraud perpetrated against FTX clientele.

SBF’s Legal Team Faces DOJ Rebuke Over Jury Questions

As of September 11, Bankman-Fried’s legal team had put forth a range of questions intended for prospective jurors, spanning diverse topics such as the effective altruism movement, ADHD, political contributions, and the like. On that very same day, the prosecution also submitted their own set of queries for jury selection.

Fast forward to Friday, September 15, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) dispatched a letter to Judge Lewis Kaplan, presiding over the proceedings in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. 

In this missive, the DOJ didn’t mince words, slamming the nature of inquiries proffered by Sam Bankman-Fried’s legal brigade. They contended that the defense’s proposed voir dire brims with an abundance of “unnecessary and time-consuming questions.” Voir Dire is legal jargon, which, in this case, refers to the initial scrutiny of witnesses or the potential jury pool and means ‘to speak the truth.

DOJ Accuses Defense of Bias in Bankman-Fried’s Trial

While SBF’s legal team seeks to elicit sympathy from the jury through their controversial questions, the DOJ has strongly opposed this tactic, alleging that the defense is attempting to present SBF in a positive light by including questions about effective altruism.

Bankman-Fried’s legal team had brought up the topic of ADHD in their proposed voir dire, likely due to SBF’s reported condition. However, the prosecutors deemed these questions irrelevant and potentially prejudicial, as they might elicit undue sympathy from the jury. They urged the court to avoid mentioning the defendant’s mental health or symptomatic body language.

On the Flipside

• Bankman-Fried’s defense argues that their proposed questions aimed to uncover potential biases among jurors, especially regarding issues like effective altruism and ADHD.
• While the prosecution opposes questions related to ADHD, Bankman-Fried’s legal team maintains that acknowledging this condition is essential for a balanced trial, as it directly relates to the defendant’s mental state and potential actions.

Why This Matters

The objections raised by prosecutors against the defense’s proposed jury selection questions in the Sam Bankman-Fried case underscore the critical role of a fair and impartial trial in the crypto industry. Ensuring a just legal process is essential not only for the defendant but also for maintaining trust and legitimacy within the broader crypto community.

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