Former FTX executive, Ryan Salame, made the decision to withdraw his petition to dismiss the indictment against Michelle Bond just days before a critical court hearing. This move was a surprising turn of events in the legal proceedings surrounding the conspiracy charges both of them are facing.
Salame’s legal team informed Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of the Southern District of New York about their decision in a letter dated Aug. 29. They clarified that the withdrawal of the petition was done “without prejudice” to allow Bond to address the matter in her own legal proceedings. This decision clearly indicates a strategic move by Salame to let Bond tackle the legal challenges independently.
Salame was sentenced to 90 months in prison in May 2024 after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges, which included 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. The indictment against Bond, unsealed on August 22, 2024, accuses her of making unlawful contributions with Salame to her congressional campaign.
Response to Petition
Salame’s petition, filed on Aug. 21, sought a writ of error coram nobis or, alternatively, a writ of audita querela based on the false belief that prosecutors would not further pursue action against Bond after his guilty plea. However, prosecutors responded to his petition by labeling his claims as “demonstrably false” and stressing that the investigation against Bond was ongoing and separate from the charges Salame faced.
By withdrawing his petition, Salame’s legal team has opted for a tactical shift in the legal proceedings. They clarified that the withdrawal does not reflect any change in Salame’s stance on the facts of the case but was more about allowing Bond to address the issues directly in her own case. This move effectively clears the way for Bond’s case to proceed without the complications that Salame’s petition might have introduced.
Ryan Salame’s decision to withdraw his petition to dismiss the indictment against Michelle Bond indicates a strategic move to let Bond address the legal challenges independently. This decision marks a tactical shift in the legal proceedings and allows Bond’s case to move forward without the complications that Salame’s petition could have brought. Bond’s case is now set to proceed under Judge George B. Daniels, highlighting the complexities of legal battles in high-profile cases.
