Sam Bankman-Fried Denied Bail Pending Trial
The Court of Appeals has denied FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s appeal for release on bail pending trial. This means that Bankman-Fried will remain in detention at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center until his trial begins on October 3. The appeal was made after Judge Lewis Kaplan revoked Bankman-Fried’s bail, citing witness tampering and an attempt to influence witnesses. The prosecution also claimed that Bankman-Fried violated his bail conditions by leaking a diary to a journalist. The Court of Appeals agreed with Judge Kaplan’s ruling and found that there was probable cause to believe Bankman-Fried had tampered with witnesses.
Court of Appeals Upholds Detention Ruling
In their review of Judge Kaplan’s detention ruling, the Court of Appeals found no error and supported the court’s reasoning. They rejected Bankman-Fried’s argument that his First Amendment right to free speech protected him, stating that witness tampering is a criminal offense. The court also dismissed the claim that Judge Kaplan could have considered alternatives to detention, citing the presumption that Bankman-Fried posed a danger to others due to his criminal conduct while on bail. The court emphasized that despite repeated tightening of his release conditions, Bankman-Fried still committed the crime of witness tampering.
Potential Consequences for Sam Bankman-Fried
If found guilty of all seven counts of fraud-related crimes leveled against him by the Department of Justice, Sam Bankman-Fried could face up to 100 years in prison. His trial is scheduled to begin on October 3.
Hot Take: Sam Bankman-Fried’s Bail Appeal Denied by Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals has rejected FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s appeal for release on bail pending trial. The court upheld Judge Kaplan’s ruling that Bankman-Fried should remain in detention due to witness tampering and attempts to influence witnesses. Bankman-Fried’s argument that his First Amendment right protected him was dismissed, and the court emphasized the presumption that he posed a danger to others. With his trial approaching, Bankman-Fried faces the potential consequences of up to 100 years in prison if found guilty of the fraud-related charges against him.