Sam Bankman-Fried Drops Request for New Trial, Citing Fairness Concerns

Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has formally withdrawn his motion for a retrial, expressing doubts about receiving a fair trial. Currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy related to FTX's collapse in 2022, Bankman-Fried indicated that he might reconsider his motion after the outcome of his direct appeal and a related request for reassignment are determined. The motion for a new trial, initially filed by his mother Barbara Fried, cited newly discovered evidence as justification for a retrial. Bankman-Fried drafted the motion himself while in detention, with limited external assistance, and stated that he may renew the motion at a later time, pending the results of his ongoing appeal.