Disgraced former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried has submitted a list of proposed jury questions to a Manhattan federal court in preparation for his upcoming fraud trial. The questions aim to assess potential jurors’ attitudes towards cryptocurrency, political donations, and “effective altruism,” a charitable giving approach that Bankman-Fried advocated for.
One of the questions asks if jurors believe that the owners of a failed cryptocurrency or financial company should be solely to blame. The proposed questionnaire also asks about jurors’ familiarity with FTX and Bankman-Fried, their experience with crypto trading, their views on wealth accumulation for charitable purposes, and their knowledge of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Bankman-Fried’s legal team wants the jury to be aware of his ADHD medication and how it can affect his behavior.
The trial is scheduled to begin on October 3, with both the prosecution and defense having the opportunity to dismiss jurors who may not be favorable to their side. Bankman-Fried’s defense team has requested his release before the trial due to inadequate internet access in the federal jail, hindering his ability to prepare for the case. Initially, he was allowed to prepare from his parents’ home in Palo Alto, California, but was later taken into custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Manhattan over concerns of witness tampering.
