FTX Founder's Criminal Trial Defense "Almost Impossible" to Win, Admits Lawyer

The Uphill Battle

The lawyer responsible for defending Sam Bankman-Fried in his recent criminal trial has revealed that the case was an uphill battle from the start. In an interview with Bloomberg, Stanford Law School professor David Mills admitted that winning the case was "almost impossible" due to the damning testimony of Bankman-Fried's former associates and his own reluctance to follow legal recommendations.

A Damning Testimony

According to Mills, having multiple founders testify against Bankman-Fried made it incredibly challenging to build a strong defense. "Even if they're all lying through their teeth, it's really, really hard to win a case like that," Mills told the publication.

The Story that Couldn't Be Told

Mills also revealed that he recommended Bankman-Fried's legal defense team admit to the allegations made by witnesses and the state prosecution. The strategy would have focused on convincing the jury that Bankman-Fried's intentions were to save the company from bankruptcy. However, Bankman-Fried's reluctance to follow this approach hindered their chances of success. "You got five people who say one thing, one person says another thing. Well, you've got no shot, zero," Mills said.

An Unsuccessful Cross-Examination

In addition to the challenging circumstances, Mills described Bankman-Fried as the "worst person" he had ever seen do a cross-examination. Bankman-Fried's attempts to refute damning statements made during the trial were unsuccessful, ultimately leading to his guilty verdict on all seven charges.

Personal Ties

Mills also disclosed that he agreed to take on Bankman-Fried's defense at the request of the FTX founder's parents, who are close friends of his. Despite his personal ties, Mills stated that he would not emotionally involve himself on such a deep level in a case like this again.

The Verdict and Sentencing

Bankman-Fried was found guilty of multiple charges, including wire fraud, securities fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 28, 2024, by New York Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over the case. The length of Bankman-Fried's sentence will be determined by Judge Kaplan, considering recommendations from government prosecutors.