Partner of former FTX Digital Markets co-CEO Ryan Salame, Michelle Bond has filed a not guilty plea to various federal counts pertaining to campaign financing transgressions. Her 2022 congressional campaign for the first district of New York is the center of the lawsuit.
Charges and Legal Processes
Bond showed up at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on September 17 on charges include taking too large and illegal donations as well as conspiracy to make illicit campaign contributions. She was freed on a $1 million bail with travel limitations restricting her to the continental United States.
The indictments state Bond supported her candidacy with money from FTX. Salame reportedly helped Bond mislead the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and a congressional committee on a $400,000 payment from FTX for her campaign.
Legal Problems for Salame
Salame has requested to have his plea waived; he has already admitted guilt to related counts and is scheduled to go to jail on October 11. According to him, his guilty plea was inspired by a deal with prosecutors, therefore stopping more Bond inquiry. Currently weighing this request is Judge Lewis Kaplan.
Targeting a seat in Congress, Bond’s candidacy fell short of advancing beyond the Republican primary. She has been active since then in starting a think tank with an eye on digital resources.
Dates for upcoming courts
Bond’s trial date has not been announced as of September 17; nevertheless, a pretrial conference for January 2025 is booked. This lawsuit fits a bigger legal narrative involving former FTX executives and other important players including Sam Bankman-Fried and Caroline Ellison, who are engaged in personal legal disputes.
