‘Ripe for decision’ – Judge Kaplan shuts down former FTX CEO’s retrial push

In a recent episode related to former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), Judge Lewis A. Kaplan has officially rejected SBF’s request for a trial.

Submitted on the 28th of April, Judge Kaplan submitted a ‘Memorandum and Order’ and noted that the government had filed a comprehensive and thorough opposition.

Citing further reasons for rejections, the judge claimed that the court had given SBF extra time to respond to the government’s argument. Now, since SBF missed the deadline, Judge Kaplan decided to move forward and put it best when he said, 

What prompted the CEO of FTX to file a new trial?

For background, Bankman was arrested for “masterminding” a significant financial scam. In November 2023, a jury in New York found him guilty on all seven criminal counts of defrauding FTX’s investors, lenders, and users.

Among these were significant financial frauds, such as conspiracy, money laundering, and wire fraud. As a result, SBF received a 25-year prison sentence.

This, in turn, has prompted SBF to appeal the decision in the High Court.

Even though his appeal was still pending, SBF proceeded to file a motion for a new trial on the 5th of February 2026. This is because SBF claimed to have “newly discovered” evidence that would refute his conviction.

Extremely confident, he even filed a “pro se,” which means he acted as his own lawyer in theory, but the judge says it appears he may have had professional assistance.

SBF even brought in witnesses who would demonstrate that either the victims received their money back in bankruptcy or that his FTX wasn’t truly in financial trouble.

The judge rejected all attempts made by Bankman-Fried

However, the judge brought up serious concerns about two of the witnesses whom SBF had named. The judge stated that Nishad Singh had already testified against the ex-CEO during the trial and that nothing new he said changed the outcome.

Additionally, the judge was also not impressed by Ryan Salame, who recently claimed on social media and in podcasts that the government had lied and that his own guilty plea was a lie. The judge added, 

The judge feels that Salame’s current social media tour is untrue and that his initial guilty plea was the truth. 

Thus, by rejecting the motion “in all respects,” the judge has formally put an end to this matter. Ergo, to ensure it is unquestionably final, the clerk is even required to mail a copy of this decision to SBF in prison.

Final Summary

• Judge Kaplan finally overturned FTX CEO Bankman-Fried’s final attempt to resolve the issue. 
• The judge dismissed SBF’s “pro se” move and the testimony of his witnesses, Ryan Salame and Nishad Singh.