In an unexpected pivot widely viewed as a last-ditch attempt at political distraction, former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has allegedly signaled support for former President Donald Trump. This sudden ideological shift comes just days after his former colleague and key witness, Caroline Ellison, secured a plea deal with federal prosecutors and was released on bail, dramatically weakening SBF’s legal defense.
Sources close to the defense team, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that SBF has been exploring various controversial public statements aimed at generating media noise and drawing focus away from the specifics of the fraud charges. The alleged Trump support, rumored to have surfaced during private discussions and cryptic online postings, contrasts starkly with SBF’s well-documented history of funding Democratic and ‘dark money’ political action committees, totaling over $40 million in the previous election cycle.
Legal experts suggest that the timing is crucial. Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research and SBF’s former romantic partner, provided extensive testimony detailing the alleged misuse of billions in FTX customer funds. Her cooperation, alongside that of FTX co-founder Gary Wang, presents an almost insurmountable challenge to SBF’s claims of ignorance regarding the fraud.
“The move to embrace a highly divisive political figure now reads purely as a desperate PR maneuver,” noted financial crimes analyst Dr. Helen Cho. “It does absolutely nothing to dismantle the factual evidence provided by cooperating witnesses who were intimately involved in the company’s operations. If anything, it highlights the extreme pressure SBF is currently under.”
While the alleged comments remain unverified by his legal counsel, the reported shift illustrates the high stakes and chaotic nature of SBF’s defense strategy as he prepares for trial against charges of wire fraud, securities fraud, and money laundering conspiracy.
Source: Sam Bankman-Fried turns up Trump support following Ellison’s release
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