Key Highlights
- Sam Bankman-Fried has accused Lewis Kaplan of showing a political dimension during the trial.
- He said Kaplan criticized what he described as efforts to create a vehicle for political donations.
Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried has accused Judge Lewis Kaplan of showing political bias during proceedings related to the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX.
In an X post on Wednesday, Bankman-Fried claimed the judge’s comments during sentencing suggested a political dimension to the case, particularly mentioning campaign donations and their impact on U.S. politics.
Focus on political contributions
According to Bankman-Fried, Kaplan criticized what he described as efforts to create a vehicle for political donations. During sentencing, the judge reportedly stated that “the state of our political life in this country is in jeopardy,” adding that actions by Bankman-Fried and former FTX executive Ryan Salame worsened that condition.
In his X post, Bankman-Fried also expressed support for U.S. President Donald Trump and described the judge as a “partisan and out of control activist.”
Solvency debate and multiple allegations
The latest comments came a day after Sam Bankman-Fried reignited the debate over FTX’s downfall by highlighting a court declaration from Dan Chapsky, the exchange’s former Head of Data Science.
In an X post on Tuesday, SBF claimed that “FTX was always solvent.” He called Chapsky the most qualified individual to evaluate the company’s financial condition. He added that bankruptcy lawyers retained Chapsky to conduct an analysis when assessing whether the exchange was solvent at the time of its failure.
SBF shared excerpts from the court filing, showing sections of Dan Chapsky’s declaration. It states, “Both analyses showed that while the international FTX exchange did have a substantial (roughly $8 billion) liquidity shortfall as of November 11, 2022, it was solvent – meaning that it had enough assets to cover customers’ deposits.”
Beyond solvency claims, Bankman-Fried has recently made a string of allegations and comments related to the FTX trial. In an X post on February 11, he alleged that several prospective defense witnesses were pressured by the Department of Justice (DOJ). He said the witnesses were threatened with prison sentences if they testified in his favor.
Ongoing drama
Bankman-Fried’s recent statements show that disputes surrounding FTX’s collapse continue beyond the courtroom. While the trial addressed criminal liability related to the exchange’s failure, debates over political influence and solvency remain active in public discourse.
As appeals and related proceedings unfold, the case continues to highlight questions about campaign finance, regulatory oversight, and accountability within the digital asset industry.
Also Read: Sam Bankman-Fried Seeks Retrial Over ‘Bogus’ FTX Bankruptcy Claims
