Sam Bankman-Fried Withdraws Rule 33 New-Trial Bid, Denies Ghostwriting

Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has withdrawn his Rule 33 new-trial motion in the fraud case tied to collapsed exchange FTX. In a letter received by Judge Lewis Kaplan’s chambers, SBF said he doubts he can get a “fair hearing” on the request. The latest filing also addresses “ghostwriting” allegations. SBF acknowledged sharing drafts with his parents, Barbara Fried and Joe Bankman, who provided editorial suggestions and helped with printing, but he insisted he was the “ultimate author.” He further denied that his appellate lawyer, Alexandra Shapiro, or other trial assistants helped prepare the Rule 33 filing. Earlier procedural context matters for timing: Kaplan previously required the court to assess whether the pro se motion involved outside assistance, with perjury risk if the response was misleading. The withdrawal pauses the Rule 33 bid while SBF’s direct appeal is reviewed by a three-judge panel, and any judge-reassignment decision could affect next steps. For crypto traders, this is mainly headline and compliance-sentiment risk around FTX rather than a new ruling on appeal outcomes. The Rule 33 withdrawal may increase short-term legal overhang but is unlikely to change token fundamentals directly.