Big bet on Santos
Poker-‘tainted’ ex-FTX exec gave max to campaign
Daniel Friedberg, the former FTX “chief regulatory officer” linked to an infamous online pokercheating scandal, gave the maximum possible donation to Rep. George Santos during the disgraced Republican’s successful bid for Congress.
The former FTX executive gave the maximum allowable donation of $5,800 to the Santos campaign last June, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
The Seattle-based attorney listed his employer as “Alameda Research” — the doomed cryptocurrency hedge fund that collapsed into bankruptcy alongside FTX.
Friedberg told the Seattle Times, which first reported on the campaign contributions Friday, that he donated to Santos on the recommendation of a friend.
Santos has faced bipartisan calls to resign from Congress following revelations that he fabricated key parts of his résumé and background.
“Obviously he’s a terrible candidate but this was unknown to me at the time,” Friedberg told the newspaper. He declined to comment further.
The filings showed that Friedberg also donated $2,900 to Michelle Bond, who staged an unsuccessful bid for a congressional seat in New York last year. Bond is the girlfriend of former FTX executive Ryan Salame — who alerted regulators in the Bahamas about alleged malfeasance at the company last November.
Poker ties
The Santos campaign donation is the latest link to controversy for Friedberg — whose FTX ties drew intense scrutiny after The Post and other outlets reported on his previous work as an attorney for UltimateBet.
The poker site collapsed following revelations that certain UltimateBet associates had access to a software exploit dubbed “God Mode” that enabled them to bilk card players out of millions of dollars from 2005 to 2008. Actor Ben Affleck was among the players reportedly victimized in the scheme.
Disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried faces up to 115 years in prison on charges that he swindled billions of dollars in customer money.