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Steve Ballmer blasts founder he backed who pleaded guilty to fraud: ‘I was duped and feel silly’

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Silicon Valley tends to tolerate a certain amount of founder exaggeration when pitching investors, often dismissing it as part of selling a vision. But some choices cross the line and can lead to jail time for founders and scandal for their investors.

A case in point is Joseph Sanberg, whose once high-flying fintech startup Aspiration Partners was backed by a roster of tech celebrities, including former Microsoft CEO and current Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. In August 2025, Sanberg pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and defrauding multiple investors and lenders, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a press release. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Ahead of sentencing, which is scheduled for Monday, victims were invited to describe their experience with Sanberg to the judge. Ballmer did so, and publicly. Ballmer’s lawyers said in the letter that he has lost money, been vilified, and that the NBA is investigating allegations stemming from the association.

Sanberg co-founded green fintech startup Aspiration Partners, which offered what it called sustainable banking services like credit cards and investment products that avoided fossil fuels. The startup promised to “automatically plant trees with every card purchase.” In 2021, it announced plans to go public via a SPAC merger at a value of $2.3 billion, though that transaction never took place.

The DOJ alleged that Aspiration booked and recognized revenue from entities held by Sanberg, who made the company appear as if it had a steady stream of customers and revenue that it didn’t actually have. The agency further alleged he defrauded investors by showing them a fabricated letter from Aspiration’s audit committee that said the company had $250 million in available cash and equivalents when it had less than $1 million. The DOJ alleged that Sanberg, along with a board member who also pleaded guilty, falsified financial records to obtain $145 million in loans.

When Ballmer shared his letter on X, asking the judge to consider the harm done to him in sentencing, he wrote, “I was duped and feel silly about that. Everyone who believed in Aspiration, including employees, customers and investors, was also duped. Everyone is still tallying the losses.”

The letter says that Ballmer invested a total of $60 million in the company, and lost all of it. Ballmer was not only an investor, but had contracted with Aspiration to provide carbon-offsetting programs for the Clippers and its stadium. Aspiration also became a major Clippers sponsor.

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The billionaire said in the letter that not only did he lose that money, his reputation was negatively affected. He used the letter to deny the reporting of a multi-part series from famed sports podcast Pablo Torre Finds Out that delved into the relationship between the Clippers and Aspiration. The podcast made allegations that Aspiration helped sidestep the salary cap for a star Clippers player. Ballmer’s lawyers called those allegations “misapprehension or intentional disregard of the facts,” in the letter.

Ballmer’s letter also said that as a result of the association with this company, the podcast and other public attention of it, he’s been named in lawsuits. Meanwhile, the NBA said in its own letter regarding Sanberg’s sentencing that it’s investigating the salary cap allegations and Sanberg has been providing evidence, ESPN reported.

While the basketball world is embroiled in all of these downstream developments, the message founders can take from it is clear: If one fabricates financial documents to raise capital, the outcome will very likely be prison.

The Ballmer Group did not respond to our request for comment.

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BREAKING: APC Postpones House of Representatives Primary Election, Issues Revised Timetable

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The All Progressives Congress has postponed its House of Representatives primary election for the 2027 general elections by one day.

The party announced that the exercise, initially scheduled to hold earlier, will now take place on Saturday, May 16, 2026.

This was contained in a press statement issued on May 14, 2026, by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.

According to the statement, all other previously announced dates for the party’s primary elections remain unchanged.

“The All Progressives Congress (APC) announces the postponement of the House of Representatives Primary Election for the 2027 General Elections to Saturday, 16th May, 2026,” the statement read.

The party further confirmed the revised timetable for its remaining primaries as follows:

  • House of Representatives – Saturday, May 16, 2026
  • Senate – Monday, May 18, 2026
  • State House of Assembly – Wednesday, May 20, 2026
  • Governorship – Thursday, May 21, 2026
  • Presidential – Saturday, May 23, 2026

The statement did not provide reasons for the postponement of the House of Representatives primary election.

The APC primaries are expected to determine the party’s candidates for various elective offices ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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Thousands Welcome Naanlong Daniel in Piapung Ahead of Assembly Primary, Launches Ward Coordinators,

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Thousands Welcome Naanlong Daniel in Piapung Ahead of Assembly Primary, Launches Ward Coordinators,

Thousands of supporters on Thursday welcomed the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Naanlong Daniel, to his hometown of Piapung in Mikang Local Government Area, where he inaugurated ward coordinators ahead of the forthcoming House of Assembly primary election.

The event, held at the Piapung Community Hall, attracted party faithful, community leaders, youth groups, women associations, and supporters from across the constituency.

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Addressing the gathering, the Speaker charged the newly inaugurated ward coordinators to remain focused and intensify grassroots mobilization ahead of next Wednesday’s primary election.

He urged them to reach every part of the constituency in order to strengthen support and ensure effective coordination during the election period.

Daniel expressed appreciation for what he described as the overwhelming support and confidence reposed in him by the people of Piapung and the wider constituency.

According to him, his campaign remains issue-based, with the development and progress of Mikang as the top priority.

“With God on our side and the support of the people, we are committed to purposeful leadership, sustainable development, and impactful representation for the people of Mikang and beyond,” he said.

The Speaker disclosed that the screening process for beneficiaries of his scholarship scheme had been completed and announced that the programme would soon commence to support students in various tertiary institutions and academic programmes.

He stated that his administration has continued to improve access to education through scholarship initiatives and educational support programmes aimed at easing financial burdens on parents and students across the constituency.

Daniel also reaffirmed his commitment to supporting farmers through the distribution of fertilizers to boost agricultural productivity and food sufficiency in the area.

He further highlighted several projects and programmes executed under his leadership, particularly in the areas of education, agriculture, youth empowerment, and infrastructure development.

The Speaker assured residents of continued efforts toward rural transformation through the execution of additional development projects across communities in Mikang Local Government Area.

He also pledged to further upgrade the community hall he built in Piapung to make the facility more beneficial and convenient for residents.

In his remarks, John Poesmang commended the Speaker for what he described as impactful leadership and quality representation, noting that the people of Piapung were proud of his achievements and developmental strides.

Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated coordinators, former councillor of Yepwest Ward, Hon. Hangkop Yohana, thanked the Speaker for the confidence reposed in them and pledged loyalty and commitment toward ensuring the success of the campaign.

The event ended with chants of solidarity and renewed support for the Speaker as supporters reaffirmed their commitment to his leadership and vision for the constituency.

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