He's already fuxx0red so getting in front of the media and trying to humanize himself while controlling the public interpretation of what happened is perhaps the only way to avoid getting continually pilloried. I think this is a thought-out move...his parents are law professors. It's not a Shia LaBeouf type of self-flagellation, I don't think.
One thing I learned from the Martin Shkreli saga is that, if the people hate you enough for something atrocious that is technically lawful, the government will poke holes in you until they find something not-atrocious that is clearly unlawful. There's probably value in winning the public over, even if they don't technically have a say in the legal proceedings.
For years I’ve wondered how much SBF’s parents knew about FTX’s operations but I think it’s fair to say they’re either (a) completely uninvolved/ignorant of the details of his situation or (b) giving him some really shit legal advice. I suppose it’s possible they’re so high up in their ivory tower they’ve forgotten there are actual consequences behind the hypotheticals they dream up for their students. Judging by his excel workbook “balance sheet” situation though I’m more inclined to believe everyone even tangentially involved has been misled. I doubt anyone knew the full extent of the fuckery aside from SBF.
The upside is establishing a counter-narrative in the media. The hope is to inoculate the general public with the story of your defense, so that people who have been exposed to your defense theory are more likely to be on your jury. I'm not vouching for the strategy, but it's far from (legal) suicide.
If a potential jury member knows about him they'll be excused from the jury. It's part of the selection process, and one reason jury selection is hard when you have high profile cases like this.
What self respecting lawyer would ever advise their client, whom is probably being investigated for criminal charges, to tell their story to the media?
Can't PR play a big part in high profile and political trials? I feel it can definitely be a strategy to try to put your story out before someone else does.
Obviously you're not going to come out and say you're doing this as a PR strategy developed with your legal team, you're going to act like it's a personal risk to yourself to tell your story, which I suppose lends it some credibility in the eyes of some people. Like some of the people in this thread.
The man's a con artist. I'm astounded that people still believe anything he says. I suppose I shouldn't be, he must be a very good con man because he managed to steal billions of dollars.
According to Sam Bankman-Fried. Not the most reliable source.