The U.S. attorney sees no reason for potential jurors to discuss effective altruism or ADHD, among other things, before trying SBF.
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On Sept. 15, the United States government responded to questions the defense has suggested posing to potential jurors during their selection for the case against former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. He faces seven charges of fraud and money laundering in connection with the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange that could land him in prison for decades.
The sides submitted their proposed questions to the court on Sept. 11 and showed drastically different standards for selection.
In a letter addressed to Judge Lewis Kaplan of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams objected to questions in four of the 14 sections of voir dire proposed by the defense. Voir dire is the process of questioning potential jurors. Williams wrote:
Specifically, Williams objects to the questions in sections concerning pretrial publicity, the effective altruism philosophical movement, political donations and lobbying, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Related: Sam Bankman-Fried says, ‘I did what I thought was right,’ in leaked docs: Report
The pretrial publicity section has a shaky legal foundation, while questions about effective altruism “are a thinly veiled attempt to advance a defense narrative.” Questions about political donations are irrelevant and those about ADHD are irrelevant and prejudicial, Williams wrote. Bankman-Fried is said to suffer from ADHD.
SBF’s jury selection delayed by one day to Oct 3. pic.twitter.com/twfb5b69Q9
The government’s questions, in contrast, are “standard, neutral, and appropriate,” Williams wrote. Both sides propose asking future jurors about their attitudes toward cryptocurrency. Among the defense questions is:
Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. His trial will begin in New York on Oct. 3.
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