NEW YORK – Sam Bankman-Fried took the witness stand in his own trial, providing testimony that seemed to frustrate Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. Bankman-Fried’s appearance was initially scheduled for Thursday, but Kaplan decided to hear his testimony at a hearing without jurors present. Prosecutors argued that certain portions of his testimony were irrelevant to the case. Kaplan will issue a ruling on Friday before Bankman-Fried officially testifies before the jury. During the hearing, Bankman-Fried answered questions coherently and precisely. However, when questioned by federal prosecutor Danielle Sassoon, his answers became uncertain. He frequently responded with phrases like “I don’t remember” and “I may have.” Kaplan and the government called his answers “evasive.” Bankman-Fried faces charges of fraud and money laundering and could spend decades in prison if found guilty. Prosecutors accuse him of using billions of dollars in stolen customer funds to fund risky investments, dark-money political contributions, and personal expenses. Bankman-Fried’s defense team is expected to focus on proving he acted in good faith and never intended to defraud customers.
Bankman-Fried skillfully avoids and evades questioning during trial testimony
