Sam Bankman-Fried, testified on Thursday as a defendant in a fraud case. He faced questions about taking advice from FTX lawyers related to business decisions. The jury was excluded from this interrogation and the judge will decide whether these arguments can be used in the defense’s trial process.
Judge Lewis Kaplan, allowed this rare questioning without a jury due to disagreements between lawyers. Kaplan was accepted as an out-of-the-norm decision by a court that managed high-profile cases involving significant figures such as Donald Trump and Al Qaeda operators.
In his testimony, Sam Bankman-Fried involved FTX’s General Counsel Daniel Friedberg in major business decisions. He claimed that he relied on Friedberg in important matters and signed the documents without examining the details. He gave vague answers when asked about specific business decisions and denied having knowledge of some subjects.
Prosecutor Danielle Sassoon interrogated Sam Bankman-Fried on various issues including terms of service and the role of FTX lawyers. Some of her questions caused objections by Sam Bankman-Fried’s lawyer Mark Cohen.
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Judge’s Decision
Following the questioning, Judge Kaplan will decide whether or not interactions of Sam Bankman-Fried with his lawyers can be discussed in front of the jury. He expressed skepticism about holding FTX lawyers accountable for Bankman-Fried’s actions.
The defense called two witnesses, but their statements did not contradict the defense’s main points. The case is expected to conclude next week after Sam Bankman-Fried’s ongoing questioning and cross-examination.
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