Former FTX-tied politician accused of campaign finance crime

As a seasoned crypto investor with a keen eye for the intricacies of the digital asset world and politics, I find myself deeply concerned about the recent developments surrounding Michelle Bond, Ryan Salame, and FTX. The unraveling of these events is reminiscent of a complex web, where each strand leads to another tangled thread.


It’s alleged that Michelle Bond, a previous associate of FTX executive Ryan Salame, breached United States campaign finance regulations, as suggested by an unveiled indictment.

2022 New York House campaigner Michelle Bond faced allegations that she funded her unsuccessful bid using funds from a cryptocurrency exchange based in the Bahamas, without disclosing its identity.

According to the undisclosed document viewed on August 22nd, Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, contended that Bond allegedly channeled at least $400,000 in illicit funds into her campaign from a “disreputable consulting contract.”

At that point, Bond was both associated with Salame and employed by FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange. This firm, established by incarcerated crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried, had its headquarters in the Bahamas and faced allegations of similar violations regarding campaign finance laws.

According to federal investigators, Bond allegedly acknowledged the exchange’s contribution to her campaign during a gathering at the Trade Group boardroom. Furthermore, FBI acting assistant director Christia M. Curtis stated that Bond knowingly concealed the origin of these funds from Congress and employed various strategies to mask her actions.

FTX’s Salame in protracted litigation

New accusations against Bond emerged not long ago, following Salame’s claim that the government breached their agreed-upon plea deal. As per Salame, this arrangement involved his admission of guilt and a commitment to cease all investigations concerning Bond.

In the fall of 2023, I found myself in a predicament similar to that of Bankman-Fried, as I pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges. This admission came at a time when his trial was ongoing. The verdict? Seven and a half years in prison. However, I’m not one to accept things as they are handed to me. Now, I’m planning to contest my sentence or even aim for the dismissal of the charges against me, codenamed Bond.

Previously, there had been an examination into financial aspects related to Bond’s campaign for the U.S. Congress in New York’s 1st district during the year 2022.

— Molly White @ XOXO (@molly0xFFF) August 21, 2024

Fed’s blast Salame

In reply, the prosecution pointed to Salame’s posts on social media after sentencing as evidence of a “clear absence of regret” towards the intricate American judicial system.

In simpler terms, Salame publicly criticized his colleagues at FTX, Caroline Ellison and Nishad Singh, on Twitter, claiming they had lied to obtain lenient deals from the government. On August 21st, the prosecution pointed out these tweets, arguing that they indicated a lack of regret for Salame’s own actions.

To learn about the flaws in our justice system, observe the minimal sentences given to individuals like Nishad and Caroline for deceiving to protect themselves.

— Ryan Salame (@rsalame7926) August 19, 2024

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2024-08-22 23:08