TechCrunch's Sam Bankman-Fried appeal criticized the judge's 'unbalanced' decision

Lawyers representing FTX CEO and co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who was convicted of fraud and money laundering late last year, are seeking a new trial.

After the collapse of crypto exchange FTX, Bankmann-Fried was convicted on seven counts, then sentenced to 25 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $11 billion. He is serving a sentence in Brooklyn.

Bloomberg reports that Bankman-Fried's appeal focuses on the conduct of U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, alleging that Kaplan's rulings were “not just wrong but unbalanced” and that the judge “continuously mocked Bankman-Fried during the trial, repeatedly criticized her behavior, and signaled his disbelief in Bankman-Fried's testimony.”

The appeal also claims that Kaplan “repeatedly mocked defense counsel” while helping the government make its case, and that he “unfairly induced” jurors to reach a quick verdict.

Bankman-Fried's attorneys are seeking a new trial under a new judge. The U.S. attorney's office, which is prosecuting the case, said it did not plan to comment on the filing.