Judge Kaplan allows charitable contributions to be admitted while denying other pre-trial requests

Judge Lewis Kaplan largely upheld his pretrial evidentiary rulings in the case against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, according to an Oct. 11 court filing.

Kaplan granted reconsideration on certain issues challenged by Bankman-Fried’s defense but maintained his decisions to preclude arguments about FTX’s lack of regulation and evidence related to the firm’s bankruptcy proceedings.

The judge did clarify that he would allow evidence of Bankman-Fried’s charitable contributions and philanthropy, provided it is offered for a proper purpose rather than to demonstrate a lack of criminal propensity.

In the filing, Kaplan rejected claims that his rulings were inconsistent. He disagreed with the defense’s assertion that it had opposed the government’s motion to block arguments about FTX’s regulatory status.

Bankman-Fried faces fraud and conspiracy charges in the collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange.

His attorneys had requested reconsideration and clarification of Kaplan’s evidentiary decisions in an Oct. 2 letter. While granting reexamination on specific points, Kaplan largely adhered to his original rulings.

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