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May 16 – According to the New York Times, the Trump administration is considering establishing a $1.7 billion fund to compensate allies investigated by the Justice Department during former President Bidens term, a move that would create a moral, legal, and political minefield for Republicans and Justice Department leadership. According to three people familiar with the matter, this unusual plan has not yet been finalized or approved. Democrats and former administration officials have criticized the plan as a massive, taxpayer-funded secret political fund. The proposal is a response to various allegations brought by President Trump against the federal government he controls. He has sought compensation for leaked tax returns during his first term, post-leave investigations into his handling of classified documents, and investigations into potential ties between his 2016 campaign and Russia. The idea of establishing a government fund to pay Trumps political allies has gained increasing support internally as the Justice Department and the White House attempt to resolve Trumps $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS, which he filed in January. Officials familiar with the details revealed that establishing a compensation fund for Trumps allies, but not for the president himself, could provide a short-term solution, allowing the president to obtain tangible benefits from the lawsuit before a judge dismisses it.Market news: BlackRocks private credit fund valuation is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.According to SEC filings, Berkshire Hathaway reduced its stake in Chevron (CVX.N) by 35.2%, down to 84.4 million shares.SEC filings show that Berkshire Hathaway has sold off all of its Amazon (AMZN.O) shares.S&P: As a major net exporter of crude oil and an emerging producer of refined products, Nigeria has been less affected by the Middle East conflict.

FTX gets court approval to subpoena founder Bankman-Fried, other insiders

Jimmy Khan

Feb 09, 2023 15:30

Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the defunct cryptocurrency startup FTX, and his family members were served subpoenas on Wednesday with permission from the court as part of the company's inquiry into "misappropriated and stolen" cash.


The once-respected cryptocurrency exchange FTX filed for bankruptcy protection in November amid claims that Bankman-Fried diverted funds from FTX clients to bolster the financial position of the hedge fund Alameda Research, which is connected to FTX. In order to find instances of misspending that may be recovered in order to pay back FTX's clients, FTX claimed that it requires additional information from former insiders, including its accused founder.


FTX's request to serve subpoenas on Bankman-Fried, his parents Barbara Fried and Joseph Bankman, his brother Gabriel Bankman-Fried, former FTX Chief Technology Officer Gary Wang, former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison, and former FTX Chief Operating Officer Constance Wang was granted by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge John Dorsey, who is presiding over FTX's Chapter 11 proceedings.


In court documents submitted on Wednesday, FTX said that the majority of the people named in the subpoena targets had started participating with its inquiry. Ellison and FTX are still in communication, and Sam Bankman-Fried "remains non-responsive," according to FTX.


In relation to their involvement in the demise of FTX and Alameda, Ellison and Gary Wang have admitted guilt on fraud-related offenses. Bankman-Fried will go on trial in federal court in Manhattan in October after entering a not guilty plea.


The subpoenas are focused on shady transactions by FTX insiders. In addition, the parents of Bankman-Fried spent $16.7 million on property in the Bahamas, and the Bankman-Fried brothers' advocacy group, Guarding Against Pandemics, bought a headquarters facility in Washington, D.C.

Additionally, FTX is looking for data on political contributions. Along with contributions from Sam Bankman-Fried, his mother established Mind the Gap, a political action committee that makes suggestions to a network of political contributors.


Bankman-Fried refused to speak, and family members could not be contacted for comment right away. Sam Bankman-Fried did not give directly to Mind the Gap, according to earlier reports, but he did contribute to some of the organization's suggested projects.