- Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Blotch has called out injustices in the trial of imprisoned FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried.
- Blotch cited the preferential treatment given to the prosecution by the Judge after also giving them ample time to examine the former crypto mogul before the trial.
- The initial hearing for Bankman-Fried’s appeal started yesterday, and if successful, could lead to a new trial or a return to a lower court to reconsider some parts of the case.
While FTX founder and crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried remains behind bars, voices keep speaking up for the reconsideration of his conviction and prison term. Among them is Criminal Defense Attorney, Michael Blotch, who recently faulted the judicial process that led to Bankman-Fried’s prison sentence, while calling for a new trial amid the ongoing appeal process.
Lawyer Calls Out Injustices in Bankman-Fried’s Case
In October, a journalist brought to light a prison interview with Bankman-Fried, in which the crypto entrepreneur shut down the popular view that FTX was insolvent and unable to repay creditors and investors at the time of the company’s collapse.
The revelation reawakened awareness of the FTX case and spurred more activism around it, with the goal of his release or an abatement of the 25-year prison term. In the spirit of the Tuesday appeal hearing, Attorney Blotch stressed that Sam Bankman-Fried’s treatment by the criminal legal system should deeply trouble those of us who care about the rights of people accused of crimes—and fundamental fairness generally.”
“The injustices at his trial were profound and unprecedented,” said Blotch.
”Unlike anyone charged with a crime before him (as far as I’m aware), Bankman-Fried was forced to sit for a pre-trial deposition—in a criminal case—to preview for the Court and the Government a basic advice of counsel defense.”
According to the lawyer, the Judge allowed the government to extensively question the crypto entrepreneur before trial, after which they did not allow the defense to present certain evidence or testimony before the jury. In addition, Blotch alleged that the government was permitted to emphasize that the funds belonging to FTX customers were “stolen” or lost, while preventing Bankman-Fried from refuting that critical accusation.
Blotch previously told CNN that Bankman-Fried was “forced to fight with one hand tied behind his back.” He now reinforces this statement by adding that the case was a “rush to injustice,” considering that the crypto mogul was threatened with offences punishable by decades of imprisonment within only 33 days after his crypto firm’s collapse.
Successful Appeal Very Unlikely
Tuesday’s hearing at the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Manhattan did not result in any immediate decision by the Judge. Instead, the court will spend more time reviewing the arguments so it can provide an opinion.
However, the odds of repealing the conviction seem really low, going by the judge’s responses and the results of preceding attempts to overturn federal criminal convictions.
Conservative Journalist Amuse has continued to be Bankman-Fried’s foremost mouthpiece in the media. The journalist published a document, “FTX: Where Did The Money Go,” detailing the movement of the crypto firm’s funds pre-bankruptcy till after the firm collapsed.
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