Bloomberg reported on Thursday that U.S. prosecutors have urged a federal judge to reject Sam Bankman-Fried's request for a retrial, arguing that the former FTX CEO has failed to meet the legal standards for such a motion.
Prosecutors noted that the testimony cited by Bankman-Fried from former FTX executives Ryan Salame and Daniel Chapsky does not constitute newly discovered evidence, as both individuals were known to the defense prior to the 2023 trial.
The prosecutors' response is the latest procedural step in Bankman-Fried's attempt to overturn his conviction related to the collapse of FTX, a failure that triggered one of the industry's biggest scandals.
The court has not yet ruled on the retrial request.
Bankman-Fried filed the motion for a new trial in February, claiming that testimony from former executives could challenge the prosecution's narrative about FTX's financial condition prior to its collapse.
The judge has not yet decided whether the motion will proceed. Meanwhile, Bankman-Fried is also pursuing an appeal of his conviction in the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Speculation About Pardon Parallels Court Challenges
Bankman-Fried's court moves are occurring in sync with public speculation about his potential pursuit of a presidential pardon.