The founder of the bankrupt FTX exchange, Sam Bankman-Fried, continues to seek release ahead of his upcoming trial. In August, Bankman-Fried lost his right to bail and was incarcerated on allegations of attempting to influence witnesses. The appeals against this decision were rejected on both September 12 and September 21.
“Access Restrictions Hinder Our Trial Preparation…”
In a letter presented by Sam Bankman-Fried’s lawyers late on Monday, it was stated that Sam’s temporary release is “necessary for the preparation of his defense.”
“We submit that we are finding it exceedingly difficult as a practical matter to adequately prepare for trial with the restrictions on access currently in place. This is not a point we make lightly but it is the reality of the nature of this case.”
Lawyers are highlighting the challenges of preparing for the upcoming trial. According to them, the list of over 50 potential witnesses, thousands of pages of documents, and more than 1300 exhibits provided by the government complicate the process. The attorneys argue that they are unable to prepare in the time outside of court as they are unaware of which witnesses will be called and in which order.
The lawyers are requesting that Bankman-Fried be released at least before the trial, specifically by October 2nd.
If the release request is granted, Bankman-Fried will need to adhere to certain conditions:
- He can only communicate with his lawyers, parents, and brother outside of the courthouse.
- He will be guarded by a private security officer after 10:00 PM.
- Access to electronic devices, especially computers, will be restricted. A dispute over this had previously occurred between defense lawyers and prosecutors.
This request presented by Sam Bankman-Fried’s lawyers aims to allow the FTX founder to more effectively navigate the legal process and strengthen his defense strategy.
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Source: The Block
