Analysis: SBF may not end up immune to illegal campaign donation charges

U.S. prosecutors withdrew campaign-contribution charges against SBF ahead of his criminal trial in October. However, that doesn't mean the DOJ will let SBF go, and the campaign contribution charges could still come to trial later. It is reported that SBF is currently scheduled to stand trial on October 2 on seven counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He will then stand trial next March on five more counts, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitter and conspiracy to bribe foreign government officials. The Justice Department said earlier this week that the Bahamian government had notified the U.S. government that the campaign-financing charge was not included in its arrest warrant and extradition documents, suggesting the charge also requires the Bahamian government’s consent. The Justice Department has not said whether it will add the charge to the March trial date. (CoinDesk) According to previous reports, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated that he would withdraw the charges against FTX founder SBF for illegal campaign donations. SBF has previously argued that this was not part of the extradition document signed by the Bahamas. In a letter to the court on Wednesday, Williams wrote that "in order to comply with its treaty obligations to the Bahamas, the government does not intend to proceed to trial (against SBF) on campaign contribution charges." Additionally, attorneys representing the U.S. Department of Justice are formally seeking a detention order against SBF, according to a new court letter. Attorneys from the Justice Department and SBF came after a hearing in which the government requested that the former FTX CEO's bail be revoked and that he be kept behind bars ahead of a trial that begins in October.