Sam Bankman Fried Withdraws New Trial Request But Continues Push for Different Judge

(AsiaGameHub) –   Sam Bankman-Fried has retreated from one legal challenge following his conviction but continues to pursue the wider litigation concerning his FTX case. A recent court document indicates he has abandoned his current effort to secure a new trial before Judge Lewis Kaplan, while his appeal and petition for a new judge remain active.

Good to Know

• Bankman-Fried has withdrawn his Rule 33 motion for a new trial without prejudice.
• His direct appeal is still pending, and he continues to seek a different judge for the case.
• The recent filing was prompted by Judge Kaplan’s inquiry into whether Bankman-Fried received assistance in preparing an earlier pro se submission.

Sam Bankman Fried Drops One Fight And Keeps Another

Sam Bankman-Fried has formally withdrawn his motion for a new trial in the Southern District of New York, though he maintains his broader legal challenge. In the new filing, he stated his intention to temporarily set aside the Rule 33 motion, with the option to reintroduce it after the court decides on his direct appeal and his request to have the case reassigned to another judge.

This action followed a demand from Judge Lewis Kaplan for Bankman-Fried to clarify if attorneys assisted him with a prior pro se filing. Prosecutors had expressed skepticism after a March submission requested more time for the new trial effort, particularly because his mother, Barbara Fried, who has no legal standing in the case, also sent a letter to the court on his behalf.

Bankman-Fried informed the court that he authored the filing himself, while acknowledging he discussed it with his parents. He subsequently contended that he could not anticipate a fair hearing from Judge Kaplan and moved to withdraw the new trial motion without prejudice, preserving his right to file it again in the future.

The dispute over the judge remains ongoing. In February, Bankman-Fried requested a different judge to oversee the new trial motion, alleging that Judge Kaplan demonstrated significant bias. The new letter does not alter that petition or the direct appeal of his conviction and sentence.

Bankman-Fried, the former public leader of FTX prior to its downfall, was found guilty on fraud-related charges in 2023 and later sentenced to 25 years in prison. As of Wednesday, he was incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution Lompoc I in California.