A second trial for Sam Bankman-Fried would not affect his sentencing range, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The United States Department of Justice’s decision not to pursue a second trial against Sam Bankman-Fried is sparking protests in the crypto scene. In a letter filed late on Dec. 29, prosecutors argued that the strong public interest in the case required a “prompt resolution of this matter.”
The decision means Bankman-Fried will not face additional charges over conspiracy to make unlawful campaign contributions. "Saying much more evidence that would be offered in a second trial was already offered in the first trial and can be considered by the Court at the defendant’s March 2024 sentencing," reads the document.
Among crypto enthusiasts, however, the strategy has been widely criticized. Coinbase’s chief legal officer Paul Grewal classified the announcement as a "miscarriage of justice," noting that:
