The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has made an accusation against former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, suggesting that he leaked the private diary of Caroline Ellison to the New York Times. This allegation arose following the publication of an article in which Ellison’s personal musings were shared, prompting the DOJ to request a ban on out-of-court statements made by witnesses and other involved parties in the case.
In their argument, the U.S. Attorneys cited Rule 23.1(a), which prohibits lawyers and their agents from releasing non-public information about a case if it could potentially interfere with a fair trial. They expressed concern about the intense media attention surrounding the case and alleged attempts by the defendant to manipulate media coverage in his favor.
FTX and SBF under serious allegations
The attorneys also highlighted possible consequences, such as tainting the jury pool, harassment of Ellison, and discouraging other potential trial witnesses from testifying due to fear of public humiliation and personal discrediting.
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The DOJ’s request for a statement restriction comes in the context of FTX’s interim leadership filing a separate civil case against Bankman-Fried, Ellison, and other executives, aiming to recover cash and reverse transactions valued at over $1 billion.
The lawsuit includes various allegations, including claims that Bankman-Fried diverted $10 million of FTX.US funds to his personal account, his brother Gabriel contemplated acquiring the island nation of Nauru with foundation funds, and political donations of more than $100 million were made using mixed company-customer funds. Additionally, the suit asserts that Ellison granted herself a $22.5 million bonus during a significant FTX cash crisis.
