Judge Reaffirms that SEC Must Produce Materials Related to Bill Hinman Speech in Ripple Case

A magistrate judge has again denied the SEC’s attempts to shield documents related to a 2018 speech in its ongoing fight with Ripple. In the opinion and order, Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn called out the SEC’s use of conflicting arguments to shield the documents. Previously, the SEC argued the speech was irrelevant since it constituted personal views, then it attempted to employ statutes that protect deliberations in official agency business.