Seven Expert Witnesses Proposed
New court filings reveal that FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) is considering calling seven expert witnesses to testify on his behalf in his upcoming fraud trial, scheduled for October 2, 2023. These witnesses could potentially be paid over $1,000 an hour for their testimony.
High Rates for Expert Testimony
According to court filings, some of the expert witnesses, such as former Federal Election Commission Chairperson Bradley Smith, plan to charge SBF's legal team $1,200 an hour to testify on issues such as campaign finance laws and straw donors.
Other proposed witnesses, including Lawrence Akka and Joseph Pimbley, would charge £800 ($1,000) and $720 per hour, respectively. Hourly rates for the remaining potential expert witnesses range from $400 to $650.
Prosecution's Witness Charges
In contrast, the court documents reveal that Peter Easton, an accountancy professor at the University of Notre Dame and a proposed witness for the prosecution, will charge $1,175 per hour for his testimony.
Department of Justice Seeks to Ban Expert Witnesses
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a motion to ban all seven of SBF's expert witnesses from testifying in court. The DOJ argues that these witnesses and their disclosures have deficiencies and fail to provide a basis for their opinions.
The prosecution states that the expert opinions "lack a reliable methodology or basis in facts and data" and are "irrelevant, unfairly prejudicial, and confusing to the jury."
Final Deadline for Trial Postponement
These developments come as the deadline for SBF to request a trial postponement approaches. If a request is filed by September 1 and approved, the trial will be moved to March 11, 2024.
Bankman-Fried Faces 12 Criminal Charges
Sam Bankman-Fried is facing 12 criminal charges, which will be spread across two trials. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
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