NEW YORK (AP) — Danielle Sassoon, the former interim U.S. attorney, took the stand in Manhattan federal court on Thursday, defending her integrity against accusations regarding the handling of the FTX cryptocurrency scandal. Sassoon was adamant that she never suggested any deal that would allow Michelle Bond, a defendant in the case, to avoid charges if her boyfriend, Ryan Salame, pleaded guilty.
Sassoon's testimony followed a contentious period during which she resigned from her position after refusing orders from the Justice Department to drop corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams. This resignation has come under scrutiny as part of the broader investigation into various individuals connected to the FTX company.
I'm not in the business of gotcha or tricking people into pleading guilty, Sassoon stated emphatically to a judge as she was questioned about her actions and the alleged implications of her communications with Bond's lawyers.
At the heart of the matter is Bond's assertion that prosecutors promised not to charge her if they secured a guilty plea from Salame, who has since been sentenced to 7.5 years in prison on campaign finance and money transmitting charges. Bond, who claims she was misled, pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against her.
During Thursday's proceedings, Sassoon expressed that she believes Bond's legal team was using allegations of prosecutorial misconduct as a negotiation tactic. According to Sassoon, if the defense truly believed their claims, they would have made such allegations directly to her rather than through insinuations.
The case remains ongoing with more witnesses set to testify next month, as the courtroom continues to navigate the complex web of corruption and ethics related to the high-profile cryptocurrency scandal.
