### Impact of Sam Bankman-Fried’s Neurodivergent Disorders on His Trial, Experts Suggest
**FTX**
**Sam Bankman-Fried**
Medical professionals have asserted that Sam Bankman-Fried’s neurodivergent disorders significantly influenced the course of his trial. This information emerged from an amicus brief submitted in support of his appeal.
The co-founder of FTX has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). According to the doctors who addressed the Second Circuit Appeals Court, Bankman-Fried encountered substantial difficulties throughout the legal process.
The amicus brief, endorsed by eight specialists in neurodiversity, underscored that specific rulings during the trial adversely affected Bankman-Fried due to his conditions.
### Criticism May Have Altered Bankman-Fried’s Responses
One major concern raised was the Manhattan district court’s choice to permit government prosecutors to cross-examine Bankman-Fried without a jury present before he testified in front of jurors. The doctors contended that this decision could have had “potentially profound effects” on his ability to communicate effectively during the trial.
The physicians noted that the presiding judge frequently admonished Bankman-Fried for his lengthy responses and efforts to clarify or rephrase questions—behaviors often exhibited by individuals with ASD, who tend to interpret language literally. This criticism led him to modify his answers before the jury, resulting in extremely brief, often one-word replies like “Yup,” which may have been misinterpreted as arrogance or apathy.
The brief also highlighted that Bankman-Fried’s defense was further complicated by a lack of access to vital FTX documents and the absence of appropriate ADHD medication. The doctors explained that individuals with ASD typically depend on concrete documentation to support their responses; lacking these materials can make them seem uncertain or evasive, potentially skewing the jury’s perception of Bankman-Fried.
Additionally, the brief emphasized the detrimental effects of inadequate ADHD medication on Bankman-Fried’s courtroom performance. For the trial’s first three weeks, he did not receive the necessary extended-release medication doses required for focus, which likely hindered his ability to engage effectively during the proceedings and may have caused withdrawal symptoms that further diminished his concentration.
### Legal Scholars Voice Concerns Over the Trial
The amicus brief’s submission coincided with another filing from a group of law professors specializing in bankruptcy, who raised alarms about the overlap between FTX’s bankruptcy case and Bankman-Fried’s criminal trial. While they refrained from taking sides, the professors argued that the collaboration between the FTX bankruptcy estate and prosecutors could establish a “dangerous precedent,” potentially encouraging the use of Chapter 11 proceedings to support concurrent criminal prosecutions.
They pointed out that the level of assistance provided by the FTX bankruptcy estate to the prosecutors was “extraordinary compared to previous cases” like Enron and WorldCom in the early 2000s. The professors also criticized the expedited nature of Bankman-Fried’s trial, suggesting it led jurors to mistakenly believe that FTX customers would receive no compensation. This was despite the fact that, as of May, the FTX estate had indicated it possessed enough assets to repay creditors, potentially amounting to billions in compensation.
In March, Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison for defrauding FTX customers out of $11 billion.
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