Bankman-Fried Seeks to Blame Lawyers for FTX Loans in Upcoming Trial

Sam Bankman-Fried wants to argue lawyers' involvement shows he didn't realise company loans were improper. He's asked Judge Lewis Kaplan for permission to quiz FTX co-founder Gary Wang about the issue.

Lawyers for Sam Bankman-Fried want to quiz FTX co-founder Gary Wang about his reliance on legal advice when agreeing to a series of loans from linked hedge fund Alameda Research.

The letter seeks carve-outs from a judge who’s previously proved reluctant to let the crypto tycoon blame the alleged fraud on his lawyers.

Wang has previously said he "didn't think the lawyers would tell him to sign something that was illegal," the filing said.

Judge Lewis Kaplan has previously ruled that arguments over the advice received from counsel could confuse or prejudice the jury, and can’t be made in the defense’s opening statement.