**Mistrial Motion in Tornado Cash Case Faces Challenges After Testimony**
In the ongoing Tornado Cash trial, the defense’s potential motion for a mistrial appears increasingly unlikely following credible testimony from IRS Special Agent Stephan George. The case centers around the stolen funds of Hanfeng Lin, the first witness, and the defense had considered filing a mistrial motion after FBI Special Agent Joel DeCapua indicated he had not traced the stolen funds to the Tornado Cash mixing service.
However, Agent George’s testimony on the second day of the trial provided substantial evidence that may inhibit the defense’s efforts. With expertise in tracing assets on public blockchains, Agent George detailed his methodology, which included the use of the LIFO (Last In, First Out) accounting principle and various analytical tools such as Etherscan.io, Chainalysis’ Reactor, and TRM Labs.
According to Agent George, approximately 149,000 USDT was transferred from Lin’s Crypto.com account through multiple wallets. Notably, about one-third of this amount was exchanged for 9.78 ETH, valued at around $47,000 at the time, before being routed through Tornado Cash on November 15, 2021. Although Agent George acknowledged that he was not initially assigned to trace these funds to Tornado Cash, he began this analysis in late June or early July of the current year.
The defense conducted a thorough cross-examination of Agent George but struggled to identify any significant flaws in his analysis. While he conceded that his findings might not be flawless, he emphasized that the results from the tracing tools used from both Chainalysis and TRM Labs corroborated each other.
The defense plans to continue cross-examining Agent George at the start of the next trial day, leaving open the possibility of challenging some of the data presented. However, based on today’s proceedings, the likelihood of successfully filing a mistrial motion seems minimal.
As the trial progresses, the implications of Agent George’s testimony could significantly impact the defense’s strategy and the overall outcome of the case.
**FAQ**
**Q: What is the significance of the Tornado Cash trial?**
A: The Tornado Cash trial is significant as it addresses the complexities of cryptocurrency tracing and the legal implications of using mixing services to obscure the origins of stolen funds.
