FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried completed his grueling three-day testimony in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday.
Being careful with his word choice, Bankman-Fried faced intense questioning from US Assistant Attorney Danielle Sassoon regarding his role in FTX’s demise.
Sassoon began her cross-examination of the defendant by scrutinizing his “cozy” relationship with members of the Bahamian Government, including Prime Minister Philip Davis. Sassoon pressed Bankman-Fried on his alleged offer to pay off the Bahamas’ $11 billion debt, to which the defendant stated he could not recall. Moreover, the prosecution revealed that Davis and his wife were given court-side seats at FTX Arena in Miami.
The prosecution then showed the jury a message from a group chat Bankman-Fried was a part of referring to former CEO of FTX Digital Markets, Ryan Salame, as “essentially” a member of the Bahamian Government. Shortly after, a clip of former US president, Bill Clinton, and Bankman-Fried with Davis and former UK prime minister, Tony Blair, at a private dinner in April of 2022 was played for the court. Also in attendance was singer Katy Perry and actor Russell Bloom, whom Bankman-Fried had previously attended the Super Bowl with alongside Michael Kives, the founder of Bankman-Fried bankrolled venture capital firm K5 Global.
Sassoon then presented an email from Bankman-Fried where the disgraced founder claimed he “would be more than happy to open up withdrawals for Bahamian customers” despite closing withdrawals following FTX’s collapse. Bankman-Fried continued that he “briefly” allowed for the exchange to give Bahamian customers priority access to withdraw these funds.
The disgraced “king of crypto” continued to fail to provide details
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