A Maryland federal judge ordered the release of SCOTUSblog founder Tom Goldstein on Thursday, casting doubt on prosecutors’ claims that the prominent Supreme Court advocate had secretly moved millions in cryptocurrency while facing criminal tax fraud charges.
The ruling came after Goldstein’s defense presented evidence contradicting government allegations that he had executed illicit digital transactions in an attempt to evade authorities.
Judge Skeptical of Crypto Evidence
Goldstein had been jailed since Monday, when prosecutors argued he had orchestrated a series of covert cryptocurrency transfers that raised concerns about potential flight risk. However, during Thursday’s hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan appeared unconvinced by the government’s case.
Goldstein’s attorneys produced WhatsApp messages they said proved the crypto wallets in question were not his. They also pointed to a $2 million transaction that occurred while Goldstein was behind bars, without access to electronics—a key detail that undermined prosecutors’ timeline.
Still, the judge imposed strict conditions on his release, barring Goldstein from using cryptocurrency and requiring monitoring software on all of his internet-connected devices.
“I need to end this crypto controversy with him,” Judge Sullivan remarked.
