Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has publicly refuted claims that legal battles against the U.S. federal government are unwinnable. His comments come in response to statements by Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, who suggested that federal prosecutions are nearly impossible to defeat. Garlinghouse highlighted Ripple's partial legal victory against the SEC in 2023 as evidence that determined defendants can achieve meaningful outcomes. In December 2020, the SEC sued Ripple, alleging that the company sold XRP as an unregistered security. Ripple chose to fight the case, investing over $150 million in its defense. The court ultimately ruled that XRP itself is not a security, although Ripple's institutional sales were found to violate securities laws. Garlinghouse's remarks emphasize that while federal cases are challenging, they are not insurmountable. Holmes countered Garlinghouse's assertion by noting that Ripple's case was civil, not criminal, and involved financial penalties rather than criminal charges. Despite this distinction, Garlinghouse's stance has resonated with many who believe that legal victories against the U.S. government are possible.