The founder of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, is going to trial on Tuesday. However, the judge has ruled that he cannot use his opening statement to say that FTX’s lawyers are to blame for his alleged wrongdoing.
The judge explained that if Bankman-Fried talks too much about the role of FTX’s lawyers in the company’s decisions, it could make the jury confused or biased.
In August, lawyers representing Sam Bankman-Fried stated that they plan to argue in court that he received legal advice on various matters, such as policies that automatically delete information and loans to FTX and Alameda.
Bankman-Fried’s legal team has stated their intention to present evidence showing that lawyers from Fenwick & West LLP and the company’s internal legal team were engaged in the examination and endorsement of specific decisions, as outlined in an August court filing.
In reaction, the Department of Justice claims that the defendant should be provided with further information regarding their trial defense strategy. If this is not feasible, they request that the court restrict certain forms of questioning, evidence, and arguments that do not directly pertain to the case.
The process of selecting a jury for Bankman-Fried’s trial will start on Tuesday and may take the remainder of the week to complete.
Also Read: Judge Blocks Key Witnesses In Sam Bankman-Fried’s Trial
