Judge Sets March 11 Deadline for U.S. Response to Bankman-Fried’s New-Trial Bid

Overview

• The Rule 33 motion argues purported new witness testimony could change the verdict from his 2023 fraud trial that led to a 25-year sentence in 2024.
• A separate appeal of the conviction and sentence is pending before the Second Circuit, with no ruling issued to date.
• From prison, Bankman-Fried has used a proxy to post on X in support of President Trump and to allege political bias in his prosecution.
• After he endorsed the Clarity Act, Senators Cynthia Lummis and Elizabeth Warren publicly rejected his support, with Lummis saying “we do not need—nor want—your support.”
• The White House has said President Trump is not considering a pardon for Bankman-Fried.