SCOTUSblog Founder Asked to Stop Playing Poker Amid Pending Trial

Published on January 29, 2025|Last Updated on January 29, 2025 Author:Juan Blanco
Tom Goldstein

Summary:

  • SCOTUSblog founder Tom Goldstein pleaded not guilty in federal court and agreed to refrain from poker while awaiting trial.
  • Goldstein, faces 22 charges, including tax evasion and filing false tax returns.
  • The charges stem from allegations that Goldstein hid millions in poker winnings from the IRS.

SCOTUSblog founder Tom Goldstein pleaded not guilty in federal court and agreed to step away from poker while awaiting trial.

Goldstein, known as one of the country’s most experienced Supreme Court practitioners in the country, is currently facing 22 charges, including tax evasion, filing false tax returns, and failing to pay taxes, after allegedly concealing millions in poker winnings from the IRS. 

Goldstein, who gained notoriety as the “mystery player” who folded a winning hand in a $540,000 pot on Hustler Casino Live last May, was once a prominent attorney. 

He famously represented Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election case against George W. Bush. 

Now, he finds himself in legal trouble, with his defense led by attorneys John Lauro and Christopher Kise, both of whom have represented former President Donald Trump. His legal team told Reuters,

Mr. Goldstein will vigorously defend against these charges, and we look forward to his exoneration

Restrictions While Awaiting Trial

Goldstein remains out on release but must comply with strict pretrial conditions set by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. 

His travel is limited to the Washington D.C. metro area unless he receives court approval, which is why he has been asked to surrender his passport. 

Additionally, he is now allowed to carry firearms and consume alcohol excessively. 

Most notably, Goldstein is barred from any form of gambling, including live and online poker. 

According to the indictment that was filed earlier this month, the man who used to be a dominant figure in high-stakes poker private games has allegedly won over $50 million against unnamed billionaires.

Allegations of Tax Fraud

The indictment details how the SCOTUSblog founder allegedly orchestrated an elaborate scheme to evade taxes by diverting legal fees from his law firm, Goldstein & Russell, P.C., into his personal bank account. 

He is accused of using these funds to cover poker debts while falsely categorizing them as legitimate legal expenses. 

Additional allegations refer to the misuse of company assets to pay off the salaries and health insurance premiums for people he personally knew, despite their poor performances or zero connections with the firm.

Goldstein’s case has stirred a lot of heated discussions, with major news outlets and the poker community closely following developments. 

Poker pro Doug Polk decided to make a YouTube video in which he broke down the allegations and offered his take on the scandal. 

Juan Blanco

Juan Blanco

Contributor

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Juan es uno de nuestros redactores principales de Póker de nuestra página en español para usuarios tanto de España como de Latinoamérica. De la misma manera, colabora con nuestra web en inglés, redactando diferentes noticias relacionadas con el sector del póker para lectores de Estados Unidos, Reino Unido, Canadá o Australia.

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