FTX’s Bankman-Fried Seeks Gag Order for All Witnesses in Criminal Case
• Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried has agreed to a gag order to prevent him from making comments that could interfere with his criminal trial.
• His lawyers have requested the same gag order be applied to all parties and witnesses potential involved in the trial, including current FTX CEO John Ray.
• The attorneys noted there has been “toxic media environment” surrounding Bankman-Fried since the collapse of the exchange, which they attribute to John Ray’s gratuitous attacks.
SBF Agrees to Gag Order
Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried has agreed to a gag order preventing him from making comments that could sway his criminal trial. This was initially requested by the U.S government on July 20th when he was accused of attempting to interfere with a fair trial by publicly discrediting former business partner and witness Caroline Ellison in an interview with the New York Times. In response, Bankman-Fried’s lawyer firm Cohen & Gresser LLP denied the accusations but accepted the relief of a gag order as requested.
Gag Order Requested for All Witnesses
In accepting this relief, Bankman-Fried’s lawyers also argued that other potential witnesses should be gagged as well, including current FTX CEO John Ray. They asked for this gag order not just apply to Bankman-Fried but “equally to all ‘parties and witnesses’ — namely, the Government and all potential witnesses in this case.” These would include former employees of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, FTX Debtor entities, Alameda Research and other potential witnesses involved in the case.
“Toxic Media Environment” Surrounding SBF
Explaining their request further, Bankman-Fried’s lawyers noted there has been a “toxic media environment” surrounding their client since the collapse of FTX—which they attributed mainly due to John Ray’s gratuitous attacks against SBF.
Impact of Gag Order
The gag order against Sam Bankman-Fried will no longer allow him to make comments publicly discrediting any government witness by sharing confidential information that may taint jury pool decisions during his upcoming criminal trial. If granted, it would also apply equally to all other parties and witnesses involved in this case as per Cohen & Gresser LLP’s request on July 22nd letter sent out Judge Lewis A Kaplan of New York court.
Conclusion
Sam Bankman-Fried has agreed to accept a gag order imposed by U.S government preventing him from making comments that may interfere with his upcoming criminal trial while simultaneously requesting it applies equally on all involved parties and witnesses—including current FTX CEO John Ray who is allegedly responsible for creating a “toxic media environment” around SBF since the fall of FTX exchange .
