The decision to avoid a second trial charging Sam Bankman-Fried with conspiracy to make illegal political donations and bribery of foreign officials has many conservatives up in arms.
Federal prosecutors said Friday that they do not plan to pursue a second trial against Sam Bankman-Fried, citing public interest in a quick resolution of the case that has apparently irritated those who hoped to see the disgraced FTX founder prosecuted to the fullest extent. .
In a letter filed Friday in Manhattan federal court, prosecutors said they “do not plan to proceed with a second trial” since “much of the evidence that would be offered in a second trial was already offered in the first trial and may be considered.” by the Court in the defendant’s sentencing of March 2024.”
“Given that practical reality, and the strong public interest in a prompt resolution of this matter, the Government intends to proceed with sentencing on the charges for which the defendant was convicted at trial,” prosecutors added.
Prosecutors’ decision not to hold a second trial against Bankman-Fried quickly sparked negative reactions from those who had followed the case.
“So we won’t know which politicians he bribed or which campaigns he influenced? That collective sigh of relief you are hearing is coming from the DEEP STATE,” Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., wrote in a Friday night post to X.
Conservative commentator John Cardillo also weighed in on prosecutors’ announcement, accusing the Justice Department of shielding Democrats from being named recipients of Bankman-Fried donations.
Sam Bankman-Fried will not face a second trial for making illegal political donations. REUTERS
“Sam Bankman-Fried will not face a second trial,” Cardillo wrote in an X post. “The Justice Department is protecting the recipients of its Democratic donations.”
CryptoLaw founder John Deaton, who has consistently commented on the Bankman-Fried case, criticized prosecutors’ decision as a “disgrace.”
“The Department of Justice has proven once again that it is NOT an independent agency,” Deaton said on X. “Who is the Attorney General protecting?”
A judicial drawing of Bankman-Fried listening to her verdict at the trial. REUTERS
Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk also commented on prosecutors’ decision not to hold a second trial for Bankman-Fried, insisting that the case “has become too egregious for the Department of Justice to completely ignore.” “.
“The SBF case became too high profile for the Department of Justice to ignore completely, but they made sure that the laundering of $100 million of clients’ money to Schumer, Biden and McConnell and other dark money groups it would never affect the ‘elite’. Trump faces 700 years in federal prison, but America’s one-party caucus just gave itself a get-out-of-jail-free card. “You are witnessing corruption in DC in real time,” Kirk wrote in a social media post.
The SBF case became too high profile for the Justice Department to ignore completely, but they made sure that the laundering of $100 million of clients’ money to Schumer, Biden and McConnell and other dark money groups never would affect the “elite”. Trump faces 700 years in federal prison, but… https://t.co/wC2l7ycl7H
-Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) December 30, 2023
Weighing in on the matter, Trending Politics co-owner Collin Rugg said: “Making bribes with stolen money is fine as long as that money goes to American politicians.”
“SBF donated $100 million during the 2022 midterm elections, investing tens of millions into dark money groups with client funds,” Rugg wrote in X. “Some of these groups were tied to Senate leaders, including Mitch McConnell and “Chuck Schumer.”
Rugg’s social media post also included a clip that appeared to show Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., blowing a kiss to Bankman-Fried during one of their encounters.
In 2021 and 2022, Bankman-Fried donated nearly $38 million to various candidates and PACs, primarily giving her cash to Democratic candidates and left-wing groups, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings.
SBF donated $100 million during the 2022 midterm elections. REUTERS
The majority of his political donations went to the Protect Our Future PAC, a group founded in January 2022 that is dedicated to boosting candidates committed to preventing future pandemics.
Bankman-Fried, accused of stealing from clients of his now-bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange, has been jailed since August when a judge revoked his bail for alleged witness tampering. He was found guilty earlier this month on seven federal charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 28.
Bankman-Fried made headlines at the start of the trial when he appeared in court looking clean, sporting a cropped bonnet and a suit after ditching the longer hairstyle and casual clothing for which he had become known as CEO of FTX.
Prosecutors accused Bankman-Fried, who founded and controlled both FTX and sister hedge fund Alameda Research, of misappropriating and embezzling billions of dollars in FTX client deposits, conspiring to deceive investors and instructing others. executives of their businesses to do the same.
At trial, he faced two counts of wire fraud and five counts of conspiracy. The combined charges amount to a maximum sentence of 110 years behind bars, but sentencing guidelines may call for much less than that.
Prosecutors said in their letter Friday that much of the evidence presented during the first trial would have been repeated in a second. They noted that since they “proved that the defendant engaged in a scheme to make illegal campaign contributions, the Court may consider this scheme as relevant conduct at the defendant’s sentencing.”
Prosecutors also said they were prevented from including the charge of illegal campaign contributions because the extradition agreement with the Bahamas to arrest Bankman-Fried did not include that charge.
FOX Business’ Breck Dumas, Suzanne O’Hallora and Timothy Nerozzi contributed to this report.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn