Sam Bankman-Fried Withdraws New Trial Motion, Citing Concerns Over Fair Hearing from Judge

Gate News message, April 23 — Sam Bankman-Fried, former FTX CEO, withdrew his motion for a new trial on Wednesday in a letter to U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, stating he does not believe he will receive a “fair hearing” on the matter from the judge.

In his filing with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Bankman-Fried said he had been focused on responding to Kaplan’s previous questions, including whether his attorney drafted his Rule 33 motion (a request for a new trial). “Because I do not believe I will get a fair hearing on this topic in front of you, I am now requesting to withdraw the Rule 33 motion, without prejudice to renewing it after my direct appeal and the related request for reassignment have been ruled upon,” he said.

Bankman-Fried was convicted in November 2023 on all seven criminal counts of defrauding FTX customers, lenders, and investors. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. His mother, Barbara Fried, filed the motion for a new trial on his behalf in March. Bankman-Fried also filed an appeal in November seeking a new trial, which remains pending. Additionally, he has sought a pardon from President Donald Trump, though Trump stated in January he has no plans to grant one.

On Wednesday, Bankman-Fried clarified that he conceived, drafted, and conducted much of the legal research for the Rule 33 motion while incarcerated in Brooklyn. He stated he did not consult his lawyer but shared drafts with his parents for editorial suggestions and with a New York attorney originally hired to represent him on the motion before he decided to represent himself pro se.