U.S. prosecutors deny making immunity promises in FTX partner case

ChainCatcher news, according to Cryptopolitan, former U.S. federal prosecutor Danielle Sassoon firmly denied ever promising immunity to Michelle Bond, the partner of former FTX executive Ryan Salame, during a high-stakes evidentiary hearing at the Manhattan federal court. According to the hearing, Sassoon testified regarding the guilty plea of Ryan Salame, former co-CEO of FTX Digital Markets, who was sentenced to more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty. Further scrutiny of this former FTX executive and his then-girlfriend Michelle Bond led to campaign finance allegations against Sassoon. "I had no intention of setting anyone up or inducing anyone to plead guilty," Sassoon said when referring to the fact that Bond was still prosecuted after Salame's guilty plea.

Bond is one of the last few associates involved in the criminal cases of former FTX executives. She is seeking to have the charges dismissed, arguing that prosecutors "induced Salame's guilty plea." Bond has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to make illegal campaign contributions, facilitating and receiving excessive campaign contributions, facilitating and receiving illegal corporate contributions, and facilitating and receiving straw donations.