The third lawyer representing the corrupt Silk Road investigator Shaun Bridges has requested to be removed from the case, saying that his recent appeal is “frivolous”.



In a recent filing to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Davina Pujari wrote:



“After having carefully examined this record and after having researched the relevant statutes and case law, counsel has concluded that this appeal presents only legally frivolous issues. Therefore, counsel requests the Court's permission to withdraw as attorney of record and to allow Appellant to file any further briefs he deems necessary.”



Bridges, a former U.S. Secret Service special agent, pleaded guilty last August to money laundering and obstruction of justice in connection with his theft of bitcoin during the investigation of Silk Road. He was sentenced to serve 71 months in prison and is currently serving that sentence.



Earlier in February this year, the US government said that it suspects Bridges to have been involved in additional thefts from the darkweb marketplace.



Pujari also highlighted an argument based in part on the testimony given by Curtis Green, a former Silk Road staffer, at Bridges’ sentencing hearing in December 2015, ARS Technica reported. She said that Green’s “testimony [was] as a surprise victim, noting it was the first time these claims had been made, that they were not part of the plea agreement, and the accuracy of the claims was questionable.” The district court also noted that Green’s testimony was “one of the most significant factors”.



In the appeal brief, Bridges contends that Green’s testimony was not subject to cross examination or scrutiny of any type and did not meet the standard of clear and convincing evidence as required. He has also argued that the district court erred in its calculation of the loss amount.