Ex-Prosecutor Denies Promising Not to Charge FTX Executive's Partner

NEW YORK – In a recent evidentiary hearing, Danielle Sassoon, a former interim Manhattan U.S. Attorney who played a key role in the prosecution of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), refuted claims that she had assured Ryan Salame, a former FTX executive, that his partner, Michelle Bond, would not be charged as part of his plea deal. The hearing took place in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Salame, who faces a seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence, is seeking to void his guilty plea, alleging that prosecutors led him to believe that in exchange for his cooperation, they would not investigate Bond for conspiring with him to commit criminal campaign finance violations. However, authorities unsealed an indictment against Bond in August 2024, accusing her of campaign finance violations related to her 2022 campaign for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Bond, who shares a child with Salame, ran for New York's 1st Congressional District in 2022 but did not advance beyond the Republican primary. The indictment alleges that Bond and Salame conspired concerning funds used for her congressional campaign.

During his plea deal, Salame stated that prosecutors had not promised him anything.

Prosecutors are opposing Salame's petition, calling his allegation "demonstrably false". They maintain that no promises were made regarding Bond's potential prosecution during plea negotiations with Salame. The government is asking the court to reject his petition.

The case continues to unfold as the legal proceedings delve into the complexities of the agreements and understandings surrounding the FTX scandal.