SBF seeks new FTX fraud trial, citing new witness testimony

Sam Bankman-Fried asked a federal appeals panel for a new trial in the FTX fraud case, arguing that new witness testimony could weaken the case that led to his 25-year sentence.

Former FTX chief CEO Sam Bankman-Fried has asked a federal court for a new trial on fraud charges, arguing that previously unavailable witness testimony could undermine the government’s case that led to his 25-year prison sentence.

In a motion filed Feb. 5 in Manhattan federal court, Bankman-Fried challenged his 2023 conviction, though the request is separate from his formal appeal, as Bloomberg reported. Motions for a new trial face a high legal bar and are rarely granted.

The filing was submitted to the court by Bankman-Fried’s mother, retired Stanford law professor Barbara Fried, and is now under review. Bloomberg described the effort as a long shot.