Former FTX executive, Ryan Salame, recently withdrew his petition to dismiss the indictment against Michelle Bond just days before a crucial court hearing. Salame’s legal team informed Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of the Southern District of New York about the withdrawal in a letter dated August 29th. This decision was made “without prejudice” to allow Bond to address the matter in her own legal proceedings. Salame was previously sentenced to 90 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges related to operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business and making unlawful political contributions. On the other hand, Bond, a former congressional candidate, is accused of conspiring with Salame to finance her 2022 campaign unlawfully.
Salame’s petition, initially filed on August 21st, requested a writ of error coram nobis or alternatively a writ of audita querela. The basis of his petition was in the belief that his guilty plea, which led to his 90-month prison sentence, was predicated on the false notion that prosecutors would not pursue further action against Bond. However, the government’s response to Salame’s petition was firm in dismissing his claims as “demonstrably false.” Prosecutors maintained that the investigation into Bond’s activities was ongoing and separate from the charges Salame faced. The indictment against Bond was unsealed on August 22nd, 2024, alleging that she conspired with Salame to make unlawful contributions to her 2022 congressional campaign.
Salame’s decision to withdraw his petition signifies a tactical shift in his legal approach. While his legal team clarified that the withdrawal does not indicate any change in his stance on the case’s facts, they argued that it would be more practical for Bond to address the issues raised in her case directly. The legal team also criticized the government’s portrayal of the petition’s motives, stating that it was not driven by dissatisfaction with Salame’s sentence but by the impending indictment against Bond. By withdrawing the petition, Salame has paved the way for Bond’s case to proceed without any added complications that his petition might have introduced.
The withdrawal of Ryan Salame’s petition to dismiss the indictment against Michelle Bond underscores a strategic decision to allow Bond to address the legal matters independently in her case. This development highlights the complex interplay of legal strategies and the importance of considering the broader implications of legal actions in criminal proceedings.
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