Tom Goldstein, the renowned Supreme Court litigator and founder of SCOTUSblog, was arrested Monday after prosecutors argued he posed an “urgent risk of flight” due to his undisclosed cryptocurrency transactions, according to court filings.
Federal prosecutors allege that Goldstein, who was charged in January in a 22-count indictment for tax fraud and making false statements to mortgage lenders, misrepresented his financial status while attempting to remove bond restrictions on his D.C. residence.
Court documents state that, over the past five days, he transferred millions in cryptocurrency through unhosted wallets—all while claiming he was destitute.
Goldstein is accused of securing millions in loans from wealthy contacts, allegedly using the funds to support a high-stakes international poker habit. Despite claiming financial hardship, prosecutors say he maintains a $250,000 bank account balance and spends lavishly, including $20,000 a month for an apartment in Dallas, $8,000 for a personal assistant, and $5,000 for a housekeeper.
Allegations of Witness Tampering
Prosecutors also claim Goldstein attempted to obstruct justice by directing potential witnesses to destroy evidence and offering cryptocurrency to at least one witness with intimate knowledge of his finances and law firm income. They argue that his actions demonstrate a “potential danger to the administration of justice.”
Goldstein has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His legal team—John F. Lauro of Lauro & Singer and Stuart Berman of Lerch Early & Brewer Chtd.—initially entered limited appearances in his case. On Monday, Stanley J. Reed entered an appearance on his behalf for a bail hearing.
Goldstein’s legal filings maintain that he does not present a flight risk, noting that he has been aware of the federal investigation for more than four years and has traveled abroad extensively without fleeing. However, prosecutors moved to strike his motion to modify his release conditions, arguing it was signed and prepared by Goldstein himself rather than his attorneys.
A hearing to determine his legal representation is set for February 12, followed by a separate hearing on his release conditions.
The case is United States v. Goldstein, D. Md., No. 8:25-cr-00006, motion filed 2/7/25.
