The US government has recently responded to Ryan Salame’s attempt to void his guilty plea, which he argues was based on false promises from prosecutors regarding their investigation into his partner Michelle Bond. The US Attorney’s Office called Salame’s claims “demonstrably false,” emphasizing that the charges against Bond are distinct and ongoing.
Salame, who was sentenced to 90 months in prison earlier this year for campaign finance violations and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, filed a petition on Aug. 21 to dismiss Bond’s indictment or vacate his own conviction. He claimed that prosecutors had implied they would not continue investigating Bond for her involvement in the same activities during his plea negotiations.
In an Aug. 26 letter to Judges George B. Daniels and Lewis A. Kaplan of the Southern District of New York, the government firmly opposed Salame’s petition. They maintained that Bond’s indictment, unsealed on Aug. 22, includes additional charges and is separate from Salame’s case. Bond is facing accusations of conspiring to cause unlawful campaign contributions during her 2022 congressional run.
Salame’s legal team has filed a writ of “error coram nobis,” alleging that his guilty plea was influenced by misrepresentations from the government. They claimed that prosecutors had hinted that Bond’s investigation would be dropped if Salame pleaded guilty. However, the government argued that Salame’s plea and the charges against Bond pertain to different aspects of the alleged criminal activities.
Salame’s petition could potentially lead to a reassessment of his plea agreement, which involved significant financial penalties. If the court supports Salame, he may face a full criminal trial, altering the trajectory of his legal battle. The ongoing legal proceedings are particularly significant as Salame is scheduled to report to prison on Oct. 13, following a brief delay due to medical issues.
The court hearing for Salame’s petition is scheduled for Sept. 12 before Judge Kaplan, allowing both sides to present their arguments. The outcome of this hearing could have far-reaching implications for Salame’s conviction and Bond’s prosecution. The government has reiterated its commitment to continuing the investigation into Bond, regardless of Salame’s claims regarding his guilty plea.
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