SBF Fires Back: Claims US Department of Justice Bias and Pressure in FTX Case
Sam Bankman-Fried just lobbed a legal grenade—and it's aimed squarely at federal prosecutors.
The Defense Strikes First
In a bold pre-trial maneuver, the former FTX CEO's legal team filed motions alleging prosecutorial misconduct. They claim the Department of Justice applied undue pressure on witnesses and displayed clear bias in building its case. It's a classic 'attack the process' strategy, turning the spotlight from the alleged fraud to the conduct of the investigators themselves.
Reading Between the Legal Lines
The filings suggest a coordinated effort to shape testimony—a serious accusation that, if proven, could undermine the government's entire narrative. It reframes the courtroom battle not as a simple fraud case, but as a clash between an aggressive prosecution and a defense crying foul. Suddenly, it's not just about missing billions; it's about how you prove they're missing.
The High-Stakes Blame Game
This move forces the court to consider a meta-question: Is this a search for truth, or a pressured pursuit of a high-profile conviction? The defense paints a picture of a prosecution desperate for a win, perhaps feeling the heat from a public and political landscape furious about the crypto carnage. Nothing motivates a bureaucracy like the scent of scandal and a chance to look tough—especially when the headlines have moved on to the next financial fiasco.
The gambit is clear: muddy the waters, plant doubt, and reframe SBF not as a mastermind but as a target. Whether the judge buys it will determine if this trial is about what happened at FTX—or how the case against its founder was built.
SBF alleges bias by Judge Kaplan
Former FTX CEO has alleged that Judge Kaplan demonstrated a pattern of bias in rulings. This involves himself, former FTX executive Ryan Salame, and US President Donald Trump. He argued that the judge “cannot rule fairly” on his latest request.
He attached a document that outlines silenced or excluded testimony related to FTX’s solvency during its November 2022 collapse. It also holds the financial position of affiliated trading firm Alameda Research and handles debtor data. SBF claims that the material could undermine the prosecution’s argument that customer funds were misused.
https://twitter.com/SBF_FTX/status/2021532733520933015?s=20
The document mentions the names of Daniel Chapsky, Ryan Salame, and former FTX engineering chief Nishad Singh. SBF points out that their testimony was either pressured or shaped in ways that harmed his defense.
Meanwhile, his fresh social media post received community notes. It shows that the account is not managed by SBF, and no documents or information shared here can be trusted.
Earlier, Cryptopolitan reported that SBF has appealed for a new trial over FTX’s fraud case. The filing shows that Bankman-Fried is representing himself. The motion was reportedly filed by his mother, Barbara Fried, and argues that new evidence justifies reopening the case.
FTX was not insolvent?
FTX’s Ryan Salame has also faced separate federal charges. He previously claimed he entered into a cooperation arrangement with prosecutors that he believed WOULD protect his wife (Michelle Bond) from prosecution. However, Bond was later charged with allegedly receiving illegal campaign contributions during her congressional campaign.
SBF has always argued that FTX was not insolvent at the time of its collapse. He even brings up that customer assets were ultimately recoverable. The convict has maintained that the company’s later recovery efforts under bankruptcy proceedings support that position.
Judges had shown their skepticism about that line of defense. This happened during the appellate arguments in November. Circuit Judge Maria Araujo Kahn noted that the government’s case focused on misrepresentation to investors and customers about how funds were used. It was not solely about whether the exchange was technically solvent at the time of failure.
Bankman-Fried has continued to challenge his conviction through appeals and public statements. In a social media post, he has described himself as a victim of what he called the Biden administration’s “lawfare” campaign.
His claims have drawn sharp criticism online, with many users responding that he should remain imprisoned over losses tied to FTX’s collapse.
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