Update:
AP reports that eight charges have been filed against Sam Bankman-Fried, including wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy to commit fraud on the United States, and violating campaign finance laws.
According to reports, Democrat mega-donor and disgraced founder of failed cryptocurrency company FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, has been arrested by Bahamian authorities.
A press release by Attorney General of the Bahamas Ryan Pinder KC has been posted online and states, “On December 12, 2022, the Office of the Attorney General of the Bahamas is announcing the arrest by the Royal Bahamas Police Force of Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) former CEO of FTX.”
Charges have been filed against SBF in the United States, where he will likely be extradited back to.
The release continued. “As a result of the notification received and the material provided therewith, it was deemed appropriate for the Attorney General to seek SBF’s arrest and hold him in custody pursuant to our nation’s Extradition Act.”
“At such time as a formal request for extradition is made, The Bahamas intends to process it promptly, pursuant to Bahamian law and its treaty obligations with the United States,” it added.
US has filed criminal charges against SBF and he's been arrested for extradition. https://t.co/FhFTSeSYXG
— Dave Lauer (@dlauer) December 12, 2022
“Earlier this evening, Bahamian authorities arrested Samuel Bankman-Fried at the request of the U.S. Government, based on a sealed indictment filed by the SDNY,” United States Attorney Damian Williams also tweeted. “We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time.”
USA Damian Williams: Earlier this evening, Bahamian authorities arrested Samuel Bankman-Fried at the request of the U.S. Government, based on a sealed indictment filed by the SDNY. We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time.
— US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) December 12, 2022
“Tomorrow, Sam Bankman-Fried was scheduled to testify in front of the House Financial Services Committee. @HouseGOP was ready to grill him six ways to Sunday,” wrote former New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin. “Now breaking tonight, SBF was just arrested! Why not allow him to 1st testify tomorrow and answer our many questions?”
Tomorrow, Sam Bankman-Fried was scheduled to testify in front of the House Financial Services Committee. @HouseGOP was ready to grill him six ways to Sunday.
Now breaking tonight, SBF was just arrested!🧐
Why not allow him to 1st testify tomorrow and answer our many questions?
— Lee Zeldin (@RepLeeZeldin) December 13, 2022
Bankman-Fried’s scheduled appearance before the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday came after the disgraced financier previously dodged chairwoman Maxine Waters’s (D-CA) request for him to testify before the committee.
Bankman-Fried told Waters and the Committee last week that he is “not sure” if he would be finished “learning and reviewing what happened” with FTX before the committee wanted him to testify on December 13.
However, on Monday, during a Twitter Space interview just hours before his arrest, Bankman-Fried confirmed that he would appear remotely before the House Financial Services Committee rather than an in-person appearance because he is “quite overbooked.”
“I don’t think I will be arrested,” Bankman-Fried reportedly told more than 19,000 Twitter users who tuned in to the Twitter Space interview.
Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Pat Toomey (R-PA), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee, criticized Bankman-Fried over his reluctance to confirm an appearance before their committee.
The two Senators said in a joint statement, “Virtually every CEO, financial regulator, and administration official for Republicans and Democrats has agreed to testify in front of both the Senate and House when called upon – that is how congressional oversight works. We have offered Sam Bankman-Fried two different dates for providing testimony before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and are willing to accommodate virtual testimony. He has declined in an unprecedented abdication of accountability.”
Senators Pat Toomey and Sherrod Brown respond to Sam Bankman-Fried refusing to testify in person tomorrow:
"He has declined in an unprecedented abdication of accountability." pic.twitter.com/1fMtylAFpR
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) December 12, 2022
They added, “Given that Bankman-Fried’s counsel has stated they are unwilling to accept service of a subpoena, we will continue to work to have him appear before the Committee. He owes the American people an explanation.”
