Sam Bankman-Fried’s father and brother, as well as former Donald Trump spokesman Anthony Scaramucci, are among possible witnesses in the cryptocurrency exchange founder’s fraud trial, according to a list read by prosecutors in court on Tuesday.
Scaramucci, Bankman-Fried’s father Joseph Bankman and his brother Gabriel Bankman-Fried were on a list of potential witnesses that prosecutor Danielle Sassoon read in court during jury selection early in Bankman-Fried’s trial to see if potential jurors knew them.
The list includes both proposed prosecution and defense witnesses, and there is no guarantee that those named will testify.
The trial, which is expected to last about six weeks, comes nearly a year after the FTX collapse shocked the market and tarnished Bankan-Fried’s reputation. Selection of the panel of 12 jurors and six alternates is set to continue on Wednesday, followed by opening statements.
Federal prosecutors said Bankman-Fried embezzled from customers at his FTX cryptocurrency exchange from its founding in 2019 until its November 2022 bankruptcy to support his hedge fund Alameda Research, buy luxury real estate and donate more than $100 million to US political candidates.
Sam Bankman-Fried stands as he is introduced to potential jurors on Tuesday.REUTERS
Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of fraud and conspiracy. He has admitted to inadequate risk management, but denies stealing the funds. His attorneys have signaled in court papers that they plan to argue that FTX’s treatment of client funds was justified, and that others at FTX and Alameda bear most of the blame for their failures.
The parents of the defendants – Bankman and Barbara Fried, both Stanford Law School professors – were sued last month by FTX’s current management, who accused them of using company funds to enrich themselves. Attorneys for Bankman and Fried called the allegations “absolutely false.”
Scaramucci briefly served as White House communications director during the Trump administration. His investment firm, SkyBridge Capital, once owned a stake in FTX.
Bankman-Freid’s parents, Joseph, above, and Barbara were sued last month by FTX’s current management.Getty Images Anthony Scaramucci’s SkyBridge Capital once owned a stake in FTX.REUTERS
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan selected a pool of nearly 50 qualified jurors on Tuesday, after rejecting some who had personal or professional obligations or otherwise felt they could not be fair. That includes a man who said he and his brother each lost money through cryptocurrency investments.
“It almost ruined his finances,” the man said. When Kaplan asked if the man could be fair, he replied, “I really want to believe that I can, but I honestly believe that it would affect me.”
Gabriel Bankman-Fried was on a list of potential witnesses read by prosecutor Danielle Sassoon in court. Guarding Against Pandemics
Bankman-Fried did not offer a plea deal
At the beginning of the proceedings, Kaplan told Bankman-Fried in open court that it was ultimately her decision whether to testify in her own defense, and asked Bankman-Fried if she understood.
“Yes,” replied the 31-year-old former billionaire. He was dressed in a suit and striped tie, with his unkempt curly hair, cut into a neater cut.
Prosecutor Nicolas Roos said the two sides never engaged in discussions about a possible plea deal and no such offer was made to Bankman-Fried.
Three former members of Bankman-Fried’s inner circle – Alameda co-chief Caroline Ellison and former FTX executives Gary Wang and Nishad Singh – reached plea deals with the US Attorney’s office in Manhattan and are set to testify against him.
Jurors may also hear from former FTX attorneys Daniel Friedberg and Ryne Miller, former FTX chief operating officer Constance Wang, former Alameda co-chief Sam Trabucco and Ryan Salame, former head of FTX’s Bahamian subsidiary, according to a list read by Sassoon in court.
Salame last month pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges but did not agree to cooperate.
Bankman-Fried has been in custody since August 11, after a judge found she may have engaged in witness tampering – including by sharing Ellison’s personal writings with a reporter. Ellison and Bankman-Fried are former romantic partners.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
