Elizabeth Holmes’s Ex-Partner Won’t Get Saved Seats at Trial

Lawyers representing Elizabeth Holmes’s former boyfriend will have to fight for seats at her criminal trial like everyone else.

The federal judge handling what may be the most closely watched trial in Silicon Valley history rejected a request by attorneys representing Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani for two reserved seats in the courtroom. Balwani served as president at Theranos Inc., the blood-testing company Holmes founded, and was romantically involved with her while they worked together. He faces the same criminal charges as Holmes but at a separate trial starting next year.

Holmes’s team has raised the possibility it will blame her alleged fraud on trauma she allegedly suffered from years of psychological abuse by Balwani. He has denied the allegations.