Court Sets a Deadline for US to Answer SBF's New Trial Bid

Sam Bankman-Fried's bid for a new trial advanced on Wednesday after a federal judge ordered US prosecutors to submit their response by March 11. Judge Lewis Kaplan of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York gave government lawyers two weeks to address the former FTX CEO's claim that new witness testimony warrants reopening his criminal case.

Judge Kaplan Sets March 11 Response Deadline

The former FTX chief executive filed his motion for a new trial earlier this month, arguing that recently emerged witness testimony could bolster his defense. Bankman-Fried was convicted on seven felony counts in 2023 and sentenced to 25 years in prison in March 2024.

Kaplan's Wednesday order establishes a procedural timeline without signaling any view on the motion's merits. Separately, the appeal that SBF's legal team filed against both the conviction and sentence remains pending before the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which had not ruled as of Thursday.

Why Is Sam Bankman-Fried Seeking a New Trial?

Bankman-Fried is seeking a new trial because he contends that previously unavailable witness testimony could change the outcome of his case. Once regarded as one of the most prominent figures in the crypto and blockchain industry, the former executive presided over FTX until its collapse. He stepped down as CEO in November 2022 and was subsequently charged with misusing customer funds.

The motion operates as a parallel legal strategy alongside his pending appeal, giving Bankman-Fried two separate avenues to challenge the conviction.

FTX Co-Conspirators: Ellison Released, Salame Still Behind Bars

Former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison, who testified against Bankman-Fried at trial under a plea deal with federal authorities, was released in January after spending 440 days in US custody. Ryan Salame, the former co-CEO of FTX Digital Markets, was sentenced to more than seven years and remains incarcerated.

Although initially quiet on social media during his first year in prison, Bankman-Fried has grown increasingly vocal. In March 2025, he gave an interview to political commentator Tucker Carlson, which reportedly led to his transfer to a different federal correctional facility. He claimed during the interview that he had better relationships with Republicans than Democrats.

What Are the Chances of a Presidential Pardon for SBF?

A presidential pardon for Sam Bankman-Fried appears firmly off the table. The White House has said repeatedly that President Trump is not considering clemency, both in a January interview with the New York Times and in a Tuesday report by Fortune.

This year, Bankman-Fried has posted multiple times on X alleging political bias in his prosecution. He praised President Donald Trump for standing up to such bias and criticized Judge Kaplan for overseeing a civil defamation case brought against the then-presidential candidate in 2023. Trump has pardoned other crypto figures since taking office, including former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao and Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, but those moves have not extended to the former FTX executive.