US Department of Justice requests not to use SBF team testimony, believes it may mislead FTX case

FTX founder SBF is still in legal battles with the U.S. Department of Justice. Recently, witnesses introduced by SBF's legal team were requested by the U.S. Department of Justice not to be used, as documents reveal that these witnesses all provide paid services.

Prosecutors Seek to Disqualify Multiple SBF Witnesses

In a filing on Monday evening, the Department of Justice indicated that all witnesses proposed by FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried should be disqualified. The main reason is that these witnesses have inadequate disclosures in their declarations, their professional experiences may be misleading, or their testimonies are irrelevant to the case. These witnesses include:

• British lawyer Lawrence Akka
• Consulting firm experts Thomas Bishop and Joseph Pimbley
• Data analyst Brian Kim
• Law professor Bradley Smith
• Assistant professor at the University of Michigan Andrew Di Wu

What Did the SBF Witnesses Say?

• British lawyer Lawrence Akka stated that FTX's terms of service do not specify trust in any legal tender, only mentioning the relationship between creditors and debtors, therefore FTX is not restricted in using legal tender for any specific purpose.
• Thomas Bishop provided testimony on financial figures and indicator calculations for FTX, Alameda Research, and other entities.
• Data analyst Brian Kim provided testimony on metadata of FTX documents and offered judgments.
• Consulting firm expert Joseph Pimbley pointed out deficiencies in FTX's software infrastructure, inadequate problem reporting functions, data integrity, and code testing, which are unknown to external users.
• Assistant professor at the University of Michigan Andrew Di Wu will provide background information on U.S. campaign finance laws, including specific restrictions on donations and the use of corporate funds.

The SBF Witnesses Are Paid

The filing states that these witnesses are paid hourly, with Akka charging around $1,010 per hour, Bishop charging $400 per hour, Kim charging $650 per hour, Pimbley charging $720 per hour, Smith charging $1,200 per hour, and Wu charging $650 per hour. Vinella disclosed that his fees are not contingent on the outcome of the case, but did not specify the exact amount.

SBF Team Also Seeks to Exclude DOJ Witnesses

In the courtroom battle, not only is the U.S. Department of Justice making moves, but the SBF team is also dissatisfied with a financial analysis expert nominated by the DOJ, believing that his testimony may not comply with regulations.