FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried has attempted to meet with the company’s surrogate bankruptcy CEO John Ray III, according to a Jan. 3 court filing. 30.
This filing revealed a private message from Bankman-Fried, who contacted Ray on December 3. 30. Bankman-Fried wanted to discuss the money that was withdrawn from Alameda Research wallets, various sources reported at the time.
Bankman-Fried confirmed that he had no access to this money. He warned that a hacker could be responsible if Team Ray themselves weren’t behind the transfer, writing:
“I’ve seen these reports… If that’s your team moving assets into trusteeship, great! If not, I’m worried it might be hacked—probably the same as it was a month and a half ago.”
Days later, in. On the 2nd, Bankman-Fried followed up on that letter by asking John Ray III to meet in New York City. This letter, in part, stated:
“I know things aren’t going quite right but I really want to be helpful… I’m in NYC the next day. I’d like to meet up while I’m here even if just to say hello.”
Bankman-Fried also contacted an unnamed witness earlier this month, as previously reported. This witness is believed to be FTX US General Counsel Ryne Miller. Neither Ray nor Miller responded to Bankman Fried’s original messages.
Government prosecutors submitted the relevant letters as part of an effort to restrict Bankman-Fried communications. Prosecutors are concerned that Bankman-Fried could influence witnesses in his criminal case through private conversations. As such, prosecutors aim to prevent Bankman-Fried from using encrypted or self-deleting messaging apps and to prevent him from contacting current and former FTX partners.
However, the plaintiffs did not provide the relevant conversations immediately after filing this request on January 3. 27. Judge Louis Kaplan has asked prosecutors to submit transcripts of a conversation by today, January 28th. 30, before continuing. As of Monday afternoon, the judge had not decided on imposing the communications ban.
Although Bankman-Fried is able to speak publicly and privately, his decision to do so went against the advice of his attorneys and could harm his defense.
Ray himself had previously complained about Bankman-Fried’s willingness to speak up, calling his statements “misleading and misleading” regarding the separate FTX bankruptcy case.