Bitget App
Trade smarter
Buy cryptoMarketsTradeFuturesBotsEarnCopy
Sam Bankman-Fried made to be ‘monster’ by prosecution, says defense

Sam Bankman-Fried made to be ‘monster’ by prosecution, says defense

BlockworksBlockworks2023/11/01 23:42
By:Blockworks

The government failed to prove “criminal intent,” in Sam Bankman-Fried trial, the defense claims

The defense began making their final plea to the jury Wednesday afternoon in Manhattan as Sam Bankman-Fried’s criminal trial nears its end. 

“The government has tried to turn Sam into some kind of villain, some kind of monster,” lead defense attorney Mark Cohen began during closing arguments Wednesday. 

One of the few areas of agreement between both prosecution and defense appears to be that witnesses have been inconsistent. As might be expected, they subsequently disagree on which side is being dishonest. 

“The government’s core case” is based entirely on “witness testimony that is not consistent,” Cohen argued. 

The defense added a new point to their argument Wednesday by opting to note that the government’s core group of witnesses — Gary Wang, Adam Yedidia, Can Sun, Caroline Ellion and Nishad Singh — were among Bankman-Fried’s closest friends. 

“[But,] every movie needs a villain,” Cohen said.

Cohen took issue with the way Bankman-Fried’s appearance was mentioned throughout the case — shown via both photo exhibits and testimony — and said that “Sam [Bankman-Fried’s] appearance has nothing to do with how FTX worked.”

During his testimony, Bankman-Fried admitted that he wore shirts and a t-shirt “because he found them comfortable” and chose not to receive frequent haircuts because “I was kind of busy and lazy.” Bankman-Fried’s testimony did, however, contradict with testimony from his ex-colleague and ex-girlfriend, Caroline Ellison .

Cohen began his presentation after the prosecution took the podium for a little over two and a half hours Wednesday morning. If Bankman-Fried’s team can’t finish closing arguments, today the government’s rebuttal and charge instructions will be delayed until Thursday. 

In his closing statements for the prosecution, Thane Rehn claimed that Bankman-fried “lied” to the jury, and reiterated the allegation that Bankman-Fried chose to commit fraud.

Don’t miss the next big story – join our  free daily newsletter .

Follow Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial with the latest news from the courtroom . 

Tags
  • FTX
  • Sam Bankman-Fried
  • SBF trial
0

Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

PoolX: Locked for new tokens.
APR up to 10%. Always on, always get airdrop.
Lock now!

You may also like

6 Best Cryptos to Hold Long Term in 2025 Featuring BTFD’s 8900% Moon Math, APU, and PENGU—Only 1 Stage Left Before This Explodes!

BTFD Coin is now in its final presale stage, one step before launch on May 27, and offering triple tokens with the LAUNCH200 code.1. BTFD Coin (BTFD) – The Final Dip Before Liftoff2. Apu Apustaja (APU) – The Internet’s Favorite Frog is Back3. Just a Chill Guy (CHILLGUY) – Vibes, Hold, Repeat4. Notcoin (NOT) – The Telegram Titan Breaking Records5. Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) – Cold but Crushing It6. Brett (BRETT) – From Lurker to LegendConclusion: Can You Afford to Miss This Again?

Coinomedia2025/05/06 18:44
6 Best Cryptos to Hold Long Term in 2025 Featuring BTFD’s 8900% Moon Math, APU, and PENGU—Only 1 Stage Left Before This Explodes!

Bitcoin Bullish Prediction: $100K May Be the New Floor

A bold Bitcoin bullish prediction suggests BTC may never dip below $100K again after a year. Are you ready?Why $100K Could Become Bitcoin’s New BottomLong-Term Bulls Are Holding StrongDon’t Get Left Behind

Coinomedia2025/05/06 18:44
Bitcoin Bullish Prediction: $100K May Be the New Floor