By Michael Scott
According to Bankman-Fried’s attorneys, their client had no hope of evaluating his case’s huge discovery without leaving prison.
A court filing issued on Monday showed that Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) will have the option to get out of prison for a few hours daily. Today, the fallen FTX founder has been provided a restricted window to meet his attorneys outside prison from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The attorneys’ initial petition was to extend the duration to five days weekly.
During the meetings, the judge will allow the lawyers to carry one WiFi device and one internet-enabled laptop.
Bankman-Fried’s Defense Team Cry Foul Over Time
SBF was imprisoned on August 11 after claims of tampering with witnesses. He is accused of disclosing the personal writings of Caroline Elisson, his ex-romantic partner, and Alameda Research’s CEO, to a reporter from the New York Times.
Bankman-Fried’s attorneys attempted to persuade Judge Kaplan that this was not meant to threaten Caroline, a critical witness, or soil the jury pool. Besides, they revealed that it was insufficient to validate his imprisonment before trial.
However, Judge Kaplan disagreed and concluded that a gag order to stop Bankman-Fried from talking to the media would be inadequate. He requested a federal judge to provide an order preventing him and other parties from making claims that could impact the trial.
Revoked Bail Complicates Bankman-Fried Life Outside Prison
Before this, Bankman-fried lived within the parent’s home in Palo Alto California under house arrest since he surrendered to authorities to face fraud charges in December.
His internet access is under heavy surveillance, and he can only browse websites pre-accepted by the government. Further, Bankman-Fried was permitted to get a new phone, but one that lacked internet access. His trial is scheduled to begin on October 2, and he will face thirteen counts of fraud and conspiracy following the collapse of FTX.
According to prosecutors, SBF diverted billions of dollars from the firm’s client base to compensate for losses at Alameda Research, his hedge fund. In addition, they claim that he misguided lenders and investors and used his colleagues’ names to make unlawful contributions to the nation’s political campaigns.
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