© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Indicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried exits United States Court in Contemporary York City, Contemporary York, U.S., June 15, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Characterize By Mrinmay Dey
(Reuters) -Attorneys for FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried rejected prosecutors' claims that his discussions with a Contemporary York Instances reporter amounted to envision out tampering however agreed to accept a gag expose, they acknowledged in a letter to the judge within the criminal fraud case.
The letter, launched on Sunday, came after prosecutors sought to bar Bankman-Fried and allies from making public statements that would possibly presumably interfere with the case. The protection requested that the expose furthermore apply to prosecutors and possible witnesses, specifically FTX Chief Executive Officer John Ray.
U.S. District Reach to a resolution Lewis Kaplan is determined to factor within the possible expose all over a Wednesday hearing in federal court in Ny.
Cryptocurrency change FTX, as soon as valued at $32 billion, filed for monetary misfortune in November. Bankman-Fried has pleaded no longer guilty to charges he stole buyer funds, and is determined to head on trial on Oct. 2.
Within the letter, Bankman-Fried's lawyer Rate Cohen confirmed his client had spoken with a Contemporary York Instances reporter and equipped documents written by a old colleague, Caroline Ellison, who has cooperated with prosecutors.
The July 20 Instances article reported excerpts from Ellison's non-public Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) documents from earlier than the crumple of FTX wherein she spoke about being "somewhat unhappy and overwhelmed" with her job and feeling "hurt/rejected" from her breakup with Bankman-Fried.
Ellison led Bankman-Fried's Alameda Study hedge fund and has pleaded guilty to defrauding investors. In December, Bankman-Fried acknowledged he and Ellison had been in a relationship however gave no extra details.
Cohen acknowledged Bankman-Fried's conduct "didn't violate the protective expose in this case, nor did he violate his bail stipulations, nor did he violate any legislation or rule."
In arguing the expose must furthermore apply to Ray, Cohen acknowledged bankrupt FTX's most modern chief has "attacked and vilified" Bankman-Fried, pointing to his commentary that the "villains" within the FTX case appreciate been being pursued by authorities and his assertion that Bankman-Fried lied to withhold up a "digital con game."
A spokesperson for the FTX debtors declined to commentary. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's location of job in Ny, which is prosecuting the case, didn't straight away respond to a question for commentary.
