Defense attorney and former US Attorney James K. Filan expects documents of the infamous Hinman speech to be publicly released by June 6, citing a previous court order.
The Hinman document relates to a 2018 speech by former SEC Director of Corporate Finance Bill Hinman, who basically stated that Ether, Not securities. These documents relate to the SEC's internal discussions and deliberations surrounding this presentation.
In a May 17 Twitter post, Filan, who has been actively following the SEC vs. Ripple case over the past few years, provided an update on when the documents could be made available to the public. “The parties have 21 days to file a public, redacted version of the summary judgment document consistent with the sealed decision, pursued to the Court's September 12, 2022 order. June 6 is 21 days from yesterday's decision," he wrote.
However, some believe that the stipulated timeline could be affected if the SEC files an appeal or if the case goes to settlement. Jeremy Hogan, a partner at Hogan & Hogan, another attorney following the case, noted that the SEC has about 10 days to appeal that particular order.
Others in the XRP community, such as AshleyPROSPER1, believe that the prospect of the documents being unsealed could prompt either party to seek a settlement, since they may all have information they do not want the public to have access to. However, a May 16 A tweet from Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse indicated that Ripple is eager to see the unredacted Hinman emails made public “soon.” While Ripple Labs has long had access to the documents, it sees this aspect of the case as important evidence in its defense against the SEC and its assertion that XRP is classified as a security.
The SEC filed a motion in late December to have the documents sealed from the public, arguing that they are "irrelevant" to the ultimate outcome of the case and that the SEC's mission overrides the "public's right" to have access to them. Ripple Labs emerged victorious this week after an official motion to deny on May 16.
