Former FTX-tied politician accused of campaign finance crime

Michelle Bond, the partner of former FTX CEO Ryan Salameh, has been charged with violating US campaign finance laws, according to an unsealed indictment.

Michelle Bond, a former congressional candidate, accused Funding her failed 2022 New York House campaign with money from an unspecified cryptocurrency exchange based in the Bahamas.

According to the unsealed document seen by Business Insider on August 22, Damian Williams, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, alleged that Bond funneled at least $400,000 in illegal funds into her candidacy through a “shameful consulting agreement.”

Bond was already involved with Salameh at the time, working at the cryptocurrency exchange FTX. The company, founded by imprisoned cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried, was based in the Bahamas and has been accused of similar campaign law violations.

Federal prosecutors allege that Bond admitted to the exchange’s role in financing her campaign during a trade group board meeting. Acting FBI Assistant Director Christia M. Curtis added that Bond intentionally misled Congress about the source of the money and used other tactics to cover her tracks.

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The charges against Bond come shortly after Salameh accused the government of reneging on a plea deal. According to Salameh, the deal included his admission of guilt and a promise to halt any investigation into Bond’s case.

Salameh pleaded guilty to conspiracy in September 2023, around the time of Bankman-Fried’s trial, and was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison. He now intends to appeal his conviction or ask for the charges against Bond to be dropped.

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In response, prosecutors cited Salama’s social media comments after the sentencing as a “complete lack of remorse” under the U.S. legal saga.

Salameh had tweeted accusing fellow FTX executives Carolyn Ellison and Nishad Singh of lying to get better plea deals from the government. On August 21, prosecutors highlighted the tweets, saying they showed no remorse for his actions.