Top SEC Official Steps Down Following Controversial Meetings with Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX Lobbyists
- December 29, 2022
Ruholamin Haqshanas, CryptoNews
Dan Berkovitz, General Counsel at the Securities and Exchange Commission, has stepped down amid reports that he had met and dined with disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried.
In a recent announcement, the SEC said that Berkovitz is departing his role at the agency effective January 31. Megan Barbero, currently SEC Principal Deputy General Counsel, will be appointed General Counsel following his departure.
Berkovitz was an ally of FTX within the financial regulatory agency and had meetings with Bankman-Fried and other crypto lobbyists, the Washington Examiner reported. The outlet claimed that it has viewed emails that suggest the SEC official had a warm relationship with SBF.
The emails were initially obtained by the watchdog Protect the Public’s Trust. Michael Chamberlain, director of Protect the Public’s Trust, said:
“If ever there were a scene to conjure up a vision of a D.C. rigged toward corrupt insiders at the expense of the little guy, it would be difficult to top this one. Not long before its collapse and a raft of fraud charges, SBF and his gang were wooing.”