Roman Storm Prosecutors Seek To Block Testimony on Crypto Kidnappings
The post Roman Storm Prosecutors Seek To Block Testimony on Crypto Kidnappings appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.
US attorneys prosecuting Tornado Cash co-founder and developer Roman Storm are asking a judge to block certain testimony after opening statements on Tuesday suggested that defense lawyers plan to question witnesses on crypto-related cases involving kidnapping and torture. In a Wednesday filing, interim New York Attorney and former Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Jay Clayton asked Judge Katherine Failla “to preclude evidence and arguments based on privacy rights” following opening statements. Specifically, Clayton requested that the judge not allow Storm’s attorneys to elicit testimony about “people being threatened, harmed, and even kidnapped” for their crypto during witness testimony. “[T]his Court should not permit [the witness] to testify to criminal incidents, which Storm has not tied to his state of mind — and has not proffered evidence that he could do so absent his own testimony,” said the government filing. “Beyond that, testimony concerning dangerous gangs and bad actors threatening, harming, and kidnapping people for their crypto is not the purview of expert testimony, is inflammatory, and calls for jury nullification […]” Source: SDNY Storm’s criminal trial, in which he faces charges of money laundering, conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitter and conspiracy to violate US sanctions related to his role at Tornado Cash, kicked off with jury selection on Monday. US prosecutors objected twice during his lawyer’s opening statement after he referenced the physical safety of users, likely leading to the Wednesday filing. Related: TikTok crypto trader freed after kidnappers realized he’s broke The witness at issue, Matthew Green, is expected to testify on why “venture capitalists do not wish to be associated with criminal activity.” Clayton argued that Green testifying on instances of investors or those close to them being kidnapped or tortured would be “inflammatory and prejudicial.” Jury selection and opening statement completed, witnesses now testifying at…
Filed under: News - @ July 17, 2025 1:27 pm