A federal judge has rejected a request from Michelle Bond, the wife of former FTX executive Ryan Salame, to toss out campaign finance charges against her. The ruling keeps the case alive, though the specific allegations and the judge’s reasoning were not immediately detailed in court filings.
The charges and the connection to FTX
Bond faces accusations tied to campaign finance violations. Her husband, Ryan Salame, served as a top executive at FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange that collapsed in late 2022. Salame pleaded guilty last year to campaign finance and money-transmitting offenses and is cooperating with prosecutors. Bond’s case appears to stem from the same investigation that ensnared her husband, though the precise nature of her alleged conduct remains under seal.
What the motion sought
Bond’s legal team had asked the court to dismiss the indictment, arguing that the charges were flawed or improperly brought. Prosecutors opposed the motion. The judge’s denial means the case will proceed toward trial or a potential plea.
What comes next
No trial date has been set. Bond is scheduled to appear in court later this month for a status conference. The government has not signaled whether it plans to offer her a plea deal similar to the one Salame accepted.
