SBF News: Appeals Court to Hear Sam Bankman-Fried's Bid to Redo FTX Fraud Trial

Sam Bankman-Fried's legal team is set to argue for a retrial before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, following his conviction on multiple fraud and conspiracy charges related to the collapse of FTX. Legal experts acknowledge the difficulty of his case, as Bankman-Fried's lawyers must prove that the trial judge made prejudicial errors or exhibited bias. The hearing will involve 10-minute presentations from both prosecutors and Bankman-Fried's defense team, although it will not relitigate the charges, focusing instead on trial conduct. Bankman-Fried seeks a new trial with a new judge, arguing that past comments made by District Judge Lewis Kaplan impacted the fairness of the trial. However, legal professionals indicate that appellate courts are generally reluctant to overturn trial court decisions unless clear injustices are demonstrated. Additionally, recent Supreme Court rulings complicate the defense's arguments regarding intent to defraud. Should the appeal fail, there are hints of attempts to seek a presidential pardon, although prospects seem dim given Bankman-Fried's controversial political contributions and standing in the crypto community.

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