Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the defunct FTX crypto exchange, has retracted his request for a retrial, citing concerns over receiving an impartial trial. This decision was communicated through a letter addressed to the presiding judge.
Currently serving a 25-year term after being convicted on seven charges related to fraud and conspiracy following FTX’s collapse in 2022, Bankman-Fried mentioned he might reconsider this motion post his direct appeal and another pending request for reassignment.
The retrial petition was initially submitted by his mother, Barbara Fried, who argued that new evidence warranted a fresh trial. While detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, Bankman-Fried composed much of the motion independently with minimal assistance.
He affirmed his role as the author of the communication to the judge but noted consultations with his legal team and parents, acknowledging their input on editorial and organizational aspects. Assistance was also provided by them for printing purposes since he lacked word processing access. Earlier drafts were reviewed by a New York attorney originally engaged for the Rule 33 Motion before Bankman-Fried chose self-representation; however, this lawyer’s involvement in the final motion was minimal.
A Rule 33 motion is an official plea to a federal court requesting a new trial based on newly discovered evidence or justice considerations. The appeal now resides with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, where in November, his attorney Alexandra Shapiro contended that the initial trial was “fundamentally unfair,” particularly highlighting restrictions on what could be presented to the jury.