Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX, won’t be released from jail before his trial next month. A U.S. federal judge denied his request for temporary release, so he’ll stay in jail while preparing his defense.
Judge Lewis Kaplan decided that Sam Bankman-Fried’s current situation is a result of his own actions. Bankman-Fried had requested to be released before his trial, but the judge denied his requests.
He had initially been released on bond after his arrest, but the judge revoked it last month because Bankman-Fried was found to have attempted to interfere with witnesses on two separate occasions.
Bankman-Fried’s lawyers, Mark Cohen and Christian Everdell, argued that he required access to online databases for essential discovery materials and to collaborate on a shared document related to his work.
Judge Denies Request for More Access to Online Materials in FTX Founder’s Case
In recent weeks, prosecutors and defense lawyers have argued about how much access FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried should have to online materials. The Department of Justice said he has daily access to laptops and hard drives and can use the internet twice a week. The defense said this wasn’t enough and was making it hard for him to prepare for his case.
The judge didn’t agree with the defense. He wrote that not just Bankman-Fried, but no defendant has the right to see every piece of evidence produced in a case. He also wasn’t convinced that Bankman-Fried needed more time each day to work on his defense.
Both the prosecution and defense wanted the trial to happen in September or October, and the judge agreed to that. He mentioned that the defense team had a chance to ask for a trial delay, but they didn’t.
The judge said that any time pressure Bankman-Fried faces because of the trial date and his access limitations in jail is mostly because of his own actions.
However, the defense can still make another request in the future with stronger evidence. Also, they previously appealed the judge’s decision to revoke Bankman-Fried’s bail, and a panel of judges will review it, but there’s no hearing scheduled yet.
Important: Please note that this article is only meant to provide information and should not be taken as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other type of advice.
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