Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman Fried’s lawyers have filed a request for pre-trial release, citing a lack of adequate internet connectivity in the federal jail where he is being held. The legal team argues that the poor internet connection is hindering their ability to prepare for his defense and causing a loss of time. This filing, dated September 8, marks the second request for pre-trial release in the past week. It comes after an Appellate judge denied Bankman Fried’s previous request for immediate release on September 6, and referred the motion to the next three-judge panel.
The lawyers stated that despite assurances from the government that their client would have access to a laptop on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., these promises have not been fulfilled. They cited several instances where Bankman Fried’s access to an internet laptop was cut short due to jail proceedings. For example, on September 1, he was called back to his cell at 2:30 p.m. for a headcount, costing him four hours of preparation time. On September 6, he wasn’t released from his cell until 11:00 a.m., and when he tried to access the discovery database, the poor internet connection only allowed him to review one document. The legal team emphasized the limitations imposed by these internet connectivity issues, stating that Bankman Fried cannot adequately prepare for trial under these circumstances.
Bankman Fried was arrested in the Bahamas on December 12 last year and was initially released on a $250 million bond. During this period, he spent most of his time confined to his parents’ California home. However, his bail was revoked on August 11 after he was found to have attempted to contact and intimidate former FTX executives and witnesses involved in the lawsuit against him.
Since then, Bankman Fried’s legal team has filed multiple appeals seeking pre-trial release. However, judges reviewing these motions have argued that he has violated bail conditions on numerous occasions, making an immediate release impossible.
This latest request for pre-trial release highlights the importance of adequate internet connectivity for defendants like Bankman Fried to fully participate in their defense preparations. Poor internet connection not only hampers their ability to review and search relevant documents but also creates significant time constraints. As the legal proceedings continue, it remains to be seen how the court will address these concerns and ensure that Bankman Fried can adequately prepare for his trial.
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