Sam Bankman-Fried Accused of Leaking Diary Excerpts to Discredit Key Witness

A court document penned by U.S. Department of Justice attorney Damian Williams alleges FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried released diary excerpts from former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison. The U.S. attorney asserts that Bankman-Fried intended to discredit the government’s key witness by disseminating the diary content.

FTX Co-Founder Allegedly Leaked Caroline Ellison’s Diary Excerpts

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) isn’t pleased with a New York Times (NYT) article that published excerpts from former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison’s online diary. A letter to presiding judge Lewis Kaplan alleges the information was leaked by defendant Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced FTX co-founder. Although the department acknowledges the NYT article “does not indicate who provided the documents to the article’s authors,” prosecutors suspect the defendant was responsible.

U.S. attorney Williams states:

It is apparent that documents were shared by the defendant with the article’s reporters.

Prosecutors suspect the leak was disseminated to discredit Ellison, who will testify against Bankman-Fried in October. The government is requesting an order that “limits extrajudicial statements by parties and witnesses.” Bankman-Fried’s alleged actions are said to pose a “core concern” with “disseminating material related to the ‘testimony or credibility of prospective witnesses.’”

The Department of Justice details that leaks like these could potentially contaminate the jury pool and possibly “deter other witnesses from testifying.” The NYT article describes how Ellison’s romantic relationship with Bankman-Fried became problematic, and she questioned her suitability for leading Alameda Research.

“By selectively sharing certain private documents with the New York Times, the defendant is attempting to discredit a witness, cast Ellison in a poor light, and advance his defense through the press and outside the constraints of the courtroom and rules of evidence: that Ellison was a jilted lover who perpetrated these crimes alone,” Williams’ letter to Kaplan concludes.

What do you think about the DOJ’s complaint about the diary leaks and alleging that Bankman-Fried was responsible? Share your thoughts and opinions about this subject in the comments section below.

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