Former FTX co-CEO Ryan Salame alleges that the U.S. government targeted him unfairly because of his support for Republican candidates, contrasting his treatment with that of Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the founder of FTX, who he claims donated to Democrats without facing similar charges.
During an interview on the Tucker Carlson Show on October 10, Salame argued that he was wrongfully charged with “campaign finance violations” for his political contributions. Salame pointed out that while he was accused, his former colleague SBF, who he believes supported the Biden administration, was not charged with similar offenses. Salame stated, “Correct me if I’m wrong here. You have Sam Bankman-Fried, who’s in prison for a long time, but he’s not been charged with any campaign finance violations. He gave it to Democrats.”
Salame’s campaign finance violations stem from allegations that he used borrowed funds from Alameda Research to make donations to Republican candidates, which amounted to between $20 million and $30 million. Although Salame’s legal team had advised him that these funds were lawful to donate, he was accused of running a “straw donor” scheme, a practice where someone uses another person’s money to make contributions under their own name.
Additionally, Salame faces charges of operating without a proper money-transmitting license. While he has not been charged with crimes related to the collapse of FTX, these campaign finance charges have put him in legal jeopardy.
Salame noted that SBF donated between $60 million and $70 million to Democratic candidates during the 2020 election cycle, but was not charged with any campaign finance violations. He also claimed he was pressured into pleading guilty by federal prosecutors, who threatened to investigate his child’s mother if he did not cooperate.
Salame accused the government of breaking an agreement, as they allegedly continued to pursue investigations against his family despite assurances they would not. In contrast, Salame pointed out that none of SBF’s family members have faced any legal consequences.
Salame has spent around $6 million in legal fees and has criticized the U.S. justice system, claiming that it focuses more on convictions than on uncovering the truth.
Summary Review: Ryan Salame’s case highlights the complex legal battles surrounding political donations and the collapse of FTX, with Salame raising questions about fairness and unequal treatment in how different parties have been pursued by the authorities.
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