The post SBF Claims Trial Was Biased and Unfair, Appeals FTX Fraud Conviction appeared com. Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced founder of collapsed crypto exchange FTX, is taking his case to the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York, arguing that he never received a fair trial. According to Bloomberg, his legal team claims the former crypto billionaire was “presumed guilty” from the start, facing bias from prosecutors, the press, and critically, the presiding judge. The 33-year-old was convicted in 2023 on seven criminal counts, including fraud and conspiracy, receiving a 25-year prison sentence for his role in what prosecutors described as one of the largest financial frauds in history. Bankman-Fried is now serving time in California and is seeking to overturn both his conviction and the $11 billion restitution order through his high-powered appeals attorney, Alexandra Shapiro. According to the appeal brief, Kaplan “repeatedly put a thumb on the scale to help the government and thwart the defense.” The lawyers claim the judge pressured jurors into reaching a quick verdict by suggesting they could work late, offering free dinner and car service home, actions they argue compromised deliberations. The defense also alleges Judge Kaplan “continually ridiculed Bankman-Fried, criticized his demeanor, and signaled his disbelief” of the defendant’s testimony. Notably, when Bankman-Fried claimed he didn’t run his sister hedge fund, Alameda Research, after stepping down as CEO, Kaplan allegedly called the testimony “a joke.” The legal team is requesting a complete retrial with a different judge. FTX Solvency Claims Fuel Controversy Adding fuel to the appeal, Bankman-Fried’s team released documents in October claiming FTX held approximately $136 billion in petition-date assets and “was never.