Why was Sam Bankman-Fried denied a retrial in the FTX case?

Sam Bankman-Fried was denied a retrial because the court ruled his claims did not meet the legal standard under Rule 33. The judge found that the alleged new evidence and fairness concerns were insufficient to justify reopening the case.

What did the judge say about the “new evidence” claim?

Lewis Kaplan ruled that the evidence presented by Bankman-Fried did not qualify as materially new or impactful enough to change the trial outcome. Courts require strong proof that new evidence could likely lead to a different verdict.

What arguments did Sam Bankman-Fried make for a new trial?

Bankman-Fried argued that the jury did not see the full financial picture of FTX, including claims that assets existed to repay customers. He also said legal advisers’ involvement supported his argument that he acted in good faith.

Why did the court reject his attempt to withdraw the motion?

The court denied Bankman-Fried’s attempt to withdraw the retrial motion even after he raised concerns about judicial fairness. This suggests the judge found no procedural issue that would justify halting or reconsidering the ruling.

What is Rule 33 and how does it apply here?

Rule 33 allows a defendant to request a new trial if new evidence emerges that could materially affect the verdict. In this case, the judge determined that Bankman-Fried’s claims did not meet that threshold.

What is Sam Bankman-Fried’s next legal option?

His main remaining path is an appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. This process focuses on whether legal errors occurred during the trial rather than re-examining all evidence.

Does this ruling change Sam Bankman-Fried’s sentence?

No, the ruling does not change his 25-year prison sentence. The conviction and sentence remain in place unless overturned or modified on appeal.

What does this mean for FTX-related recoveries?

The retrial decision does not directly impact ongoing efforts to recover funds for FTX customers. Those processes are handled separately through bankruptcy and asset recovery proceedings.

Judge denies Sam Bankman-Fried retrial bid

Written by Mahathir BayenaPublished Apr. 29 2026

Sam Bankman-Fried was denied a new trial on April 28, 2026, as a federal judge rejected his attempt to reopen the criminal case tied to the collapse of FTX.

Lewis Kaplan ruled that Bankman-Fried’s arguments about newly discovered evidence and fairness concerns did not meet the legal standard required under Rule 33.

The former FTX chief had argued that the jury did not see the full financial picture, including claims that assets existed to repay customers, and that legal counsel involvement supported his good faith defence.

Kaplan rejected both the motion and Bankman-Fried’s attempt to withdraw it, despite claims the court would not be impartial in evaluating the request.

The decision leaves Bankman-Fried’s appeal before the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit as his primary avenue to challenge his conviction and 25-year prison sentence.