John Deaton, a Republican Senate candidate and pro-crypto lawyer, has raised concerns about the conduct of former SEC attorney Ladan Stewart while at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Deaton, who has been actively advocating for investor rights in crypto and blockchain cases, particularly involving Ripple (XRP) and LBRY, has accused Stewart of actions that harmed investors. He has challenged her to a debate to discuss these concerns.
Deaton alleges that during her time at the SEC, Stewart and her colleagues opposed filings from individual investors, including Deaton’s own role in the XRP case where he represented XRP holders as amicus counsel. Despite the SEC’s General Counsel policy supporting amicus briefs, Stewart and her team allegedly went beyond opposing a motion to intervene and argued against any representation for XRP holders, which Deaton claims lacked legal basis. Judge Sarah Netburn, who presided over the Ripple case, expressed similar concerns about the SEC’s conduct.
However, Deaton points out that Judge Analisa Torres referenced his filings and the thousands of XRP holder affidavits he submitted, using them in her final judgment decision, despite the SEC’s attempts to remove him from the case. Deaton believes that Stewart should be held accountable for her actions during her tenure at the SEC, as innocent investors, developers, and users have been harmed.
As part of his campaign for the U.S. Senate, Deaton aims to restore ethics and a faithful allegiance to the law in the government. He believes that public officials should be held accountable for their conduct, even after they leave their positions.