【特集】Observations from Sam Bankman-Fried's Trial: Bald Prosecutors vs Balding Defense Lawyers

Bald Prosecutors Outshine Defense Lawyers

In the ongoing criminal trial of Sam Bankman-Fried, the contrast between the well-shaved heads of the prosecutors and the balding defense lawyers is hard to ignore. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams and his deputy Danielle Sassoon, both without a single hair on their heads, exude confidence and professionalism. Meanwhile, defense lawyers Mark Cohen and Chris Everdell, with their noticeable bald spots, struggle to match the prosecutors' presence.

Danielle Sassoon's Evisceration in Cross-Examination

During the trial, Deputy U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon took the lead in cross-examining Bankman-Fried. With a blowout hairstyle that caught the attention of female press members, she skillfully exposed inconsistencies in the former crypto chief's testimonies. Leveraging his vast history of tweets, interviews, and congressional testimonies, Sassoon aimed to catch Bankman-Fried in a lie. Although she couldn't extract a smoking gun, she succeeded in revealing him as an unreliable narrator.

Bankman-Fried's Defense and Frustration

Bankman-Fried's defense strategy primarily revolved around claiming ignorance and lack of recollection. Throughout the cross-examination, he responded with a series of "I don't know," "I don't recall," and "I'm not confident." However, his excessive waffling began to wear thin on the jury, with some members visibly showing signs of boredom and frustration. Bankman-Fried's taunting and interjecting during the proceedings earned him a reprimand from Judge Lewis Kaplan.

What to Expect Next

The trial is expected to continue with another two hours of cross-examination by Danielle Sassoon, followed by redirect examination by defense attorney Mark Cohen. After that, the Department of Justice plans to present a rebuttal case. Prosecutors will call two witnesses, an FBI agent and an employee of Apollo Global Capital. Closing arguments and the jury charge conference are also anticipated to take place later this week.