Elizabeth Holmes’s Lawyers Say She Suffered Decade of Abuse
- Theranos founder says former boyfriend dominated her decisions
- Court records unsealed ahead of trial slated to begin Aug. 31
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Unsealed court filings in the criminal case against Elizabeth Holmes reveal that her lawyers have been preparing a defense that the Theranos Inc. founder suffered “a decade-long campaign of psychological abuse” at the hands of Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, her former romantic partner and president of the company.
Holmes is facing up to 20 years in prison on charges that the blood-testing startup she created and led as chief executive officer was a massive fraud. Her lawyers told the court last year that they expect her to testify in her defense in a trial that’s scheduled to begin with jury selection on Aug. 31. Holmes was charged alongside Balwani, but their trials were separated by a judge, with the reasoning kept under seal until Saturday.