Judge Denies Sam Bankman-Fried’s Request for Temporary Release
The disgraced founder of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), has been denied his request for temporary release from prison. Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled that SBF does not have the authority to inspect all the evidence and that any time pressure he faces while incarcerated is his own fault.
Judge Kaplan Alleges SBF Had Plenty Of Time To Review Evidence
In a recent court filing, Judge Kaplan rejected SBF’s lawyers’ request for his release to better prepare for his trial. Kaplan pointed out that SBF had ample time to review the evidence before his bail was revoked and that he had no issues with connectivity during his seven months of house arrest.
According to Kaplan, SBF’s current claims of time pressure are self-imposed. He suggests that SBF had enough time to strategize and conduct research before the impending court date.
Additionally, SBF learned that he does not have the right to review all the evidence against him, as no defendant has a constitutional right to do so.
Mounting Evidence Against SBF In Recent Times
Judge Kaplan stated that there were no obstacles to SBF’s trial preparations during his time at his parent’s residence. However, he acknowledged that there were materials disclosed by the government only recently.
SBF’s lawyers challenged the prosecutor’s decision to release an additional “4 million pages of discovery” so close to the court date, arguing that it hindered his chances of a fair trial. They claimed that he did not have sufficient time to review all the evidence before the trial.
The defense team also emphasized that before being incarcerated, SBF dedicated 80-100 hours a week to reviewing the extensive discovery and creating detailed analyses to share with his attorneys.
Hot Take: SBF’s Request for Temporary Release Denied, Time Pressure Self-Imposed
The denial of Sam Bankman-Fried’s request for temporary release from prison highlights the court’s rejection of his claims of time pressure and the lack of authority to inspect all the evidence. Judge Kaplan emphasized that SBF had ample time for trial preparations during his seven months of house arrest. The judge also clarified that no defendant has a constitutional right to review every bit of discovery.
This ruling adds to the mounting evidence against SBF, as his lawyers challenge the release of millions of pages of discovery close to the court date. However, they argue that he did not have enough time to review the evidence before the trial. Despite these challenges, it appears that SBF’s time pressure is largely a result of his own actions.
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