Roman Storm, founder of Tornado Cash, is preparing for his upcoming trial set to begin next week. His attorneys have filed a motion to exclude a witness due to potential bias.
Basis for Witness Exclusion
Roman Storm's attorneys have filed a motion to exclude testimony from an unnamed witness, described as the 'claimed perpetrator of an alleged hack who allegedly used Tornado Cash'. Storm's legal team contends that prosecutors disclosed the witness after the deadline, arguing that the testimony could be 'highly prejudicial' to Storm.
Positions of Both Sides
The attorneys argue that the witness's testimony may confuse jurors into believing that Storm was involved in or intended to facilitate the alleged hack, which is untrue. They emphasize that the testimony could provoke an angry response from jurors, affecting their perception of Storm.
Support from the Crypto Community
Since Storm's indictment in 2023, many in the crypto industry have supported him, claiming that developing the Tornado Cash code is not a crime. Notable figures, including founders of Paradigm and Ethereum, have contributed significant sums to Storm's legal fund ahead of the trial.
Roman Storm's trial is set to begin on Monday, with his legal team awaiting a decision on the motion to exclude the witness. Support from the crypto community continues to bolster Storm ahead of the proceedings.
