- Ryan Salame Withdraws Court Request
- Withdrawal Amid Bond's Accusations
- Legal Consequences and Future Steps
Former FTX executive Ryan Salame, who was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison in May, has withdrawn his request to a New York court to enforce the terms of his plea agreement or have it annulled. Legal proceedings continue, and this decision could have significant implications for his case.
Ryan Salame Withdraws Court Request
Former FTX executive Ryan Salame has retracted his request to a New York court, initially seeking to enforce the terms of his plea agreement or have it annulled along with the cancellation of his sentence. Salame's legal team submitted a petition alleging that his guilty plea was improperly obtained and that prosecutors coerced him by promising to end their investigation into his partner Michelle Bond.
Withdrawal Amid Bond's Accusations
Salame's petition was filed just one day before charges against Michelle Bond, a former SEC lawyer and crypto advocacy leader in Washington, were publicly disclosed. Bond was indicted on August 22 for allegedly accepting illegal campaign donations from Salame and other FTX employees during her failed 2022 bid for Congress. Prosecutors allegedly pressured Bond during plea discussions, hinting they would 'halt their investigation into Bond if Salame agreed to plead guilty.' Attorney's quote: 'Mr. Salame is withdrawing the Petition to allow Ms. Bond to address the issue in her own case.'
Legal Consequences and Future Steps
Judge Lewis Kaplan has decided to proceed with a hearing on the original petition and stipulated that Salame must attend it as part of his bail conditions. Bond appeared before a magistrate judge in the Southern District of New York on August 22 and was released on a $1 million bond. She faces four accusations related to campaign finance violations: conspiracy to make illegal political contributions, accepting excessive campaign donations, receiving unlawful corporate contributions, and facilitating conduit contributions. Each offense carries a potential maximum sentence of five years if convicted.
Ryan Salame’s withdrawal of his request to the court raises new legal complexities and questions to be addressed in Michelle Bond's case. Future steps will depend on the outcome of hearings and court decisions.
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