SBF Expert Witnesses Staggering Payment, $1,200 Per Hour
Disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) is reportedly seeking to hire expert witnesses to testify on his behalf. Allegedly, he plans to offer an hourly rate of $1,200 for their services.
They would provide evidence about campaign finance laws, the operations of FTX as well as favorably scrutinize its terms and conditions.
SBF Plans To Enlist Seven Expert Witnesses
According to an August 31 report, SBF is considering enlisting seven expert witnesses in his upcoming fraud trial. He allegedly plans compensate them with fees of up to $1,200 per hour.
The news comes after reports revealing a possibility of SBF’s October trial date moving to March 2024. Judge Kaplan has indicated that this potential change aims to provide SBF additional time to thoroughly examine the evidence presented against him. SBF’s lawyers recently contended that US prosecutors are creating challenges that could impede his chances of a fair trial.
One of these challenges involves reportedly including an extra 4 million pages of evidence in the stack. SBF’s lawyers assert that the “government cannot be allowed to dump millions of pages on the defense less than six weeks before trial.”
Reportedly, US federal prosecutors are aiming to prevent the witnesses from testifying. They allege that the purpose of hiring them is to support SBF’s claims of innocence.
“Federal prosecutors are seeking to block the witnesses however, arguing the experts will only provide testimony about Bankman-Fried’s “supposed lack of criminal knowledge or intent” gleaned from talking to others.”
SBF Developments In Recent Times
According to the report, the use of expert witnesses by both defendants and the prosecution is a common practice.
Recently, the tension has been mounting as SBF approaches the October trial date.
He is serving time in prison following prosecutors’ efforts to revoke his bail due to accusations of witness tampering towards his former girlfriend, Caroline Ellison.
SBF reportedly leaked Ellison’s private journals to the New York Times. Prosecutors allege that SBF was attempting to intimidate her as she is a significant witness to the prosecution.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.