U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters Insists SBF Attend FTX Hearing on Capitol Hill

Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters returned to Twitter today to more forcefully compel FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried to attend the December 13 House Committee hearing on the collapse of FTX.

"It is imperative that you attend our hearing on the 13th, and we are willing to schedule continued hearings if there is more information to be shared later," Waters tweeted.

The representative from California district 43 initially reached out to Bankman-Fried on December 2, first thanking the former CEO for being candid about the collapse of FTX. The invitation to testify was not a demand or subpoena.

"Once I have finished learning and reviewing what happened, I would feel like it was my duty to appear before the committee and explain," Bankman-Fried replied on Sunday. "I'm not sure that will happen by the 13th. But when it does, I will testify."

It appears that Waters' patience with Bankman-Fried is wearing out as the Congresswoman did not mince words about the importance of Bankman-Friend coming to Washington to testify.

"As you know, the collapse of FTX has harmed over one million people," Water said. "Your testimony would not only be meaningful to Members of Congress, but is also critical to the American people."

The back and forth between the Congresswoman and Bankman-Fried has drawn significant commentary from Crypto Twitter.

“Ms Waters, with all due respect - let's stop flirting with the inevitable outcome and cut the crap,” tweeted Bitmex VP Genia Mikhalchenko. “Begin the process of extradition to bring him back to US soil where he can be tried and properly judged for his gross and fraudulent misconduct. Send a subpoena.”.

Whether or not Bankman-Fried shows up on December 13 to testify remains to be seen, but Bankman-Fried has a long line of officials and regulators waiting in the wings to speak with the former billionaire.