Judge Denies Sam Bankman-Fried’s Request for Pre-Trial Release
A U.S. district judge has rejected Sam Bankman-Fried’s latest attempt to be released from prison before his upcoming trial. Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of FTX, had requested temporary release on October 2, the day before his trial begins. His lawyers argued that his presence outside of prison is necessary for the preparation of his defense due to the technical nature of the trial and the extensive amount of material to review.
However, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan denied the request without providing further details. Bankman-Fried’s bail was previously revoked in August after allegations of witness tampering.
Prior Rejection and Charges
This is not the first time Bankman-Fried’s request for pre-trial release has been denied. In September, Judge Kaplan ruled against it, stating that Bankman-Fried had not provided sufficient evidence that his personal inability to access materials would impede his defense. The FTX founder is facing charges of defrauding investors and mishandling customer funds related to the collapse of the exchange last year. If convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence.
Hot Take: Judge Upholds Pre-Trial Detention for Bankman-Fried
A U.S. district judge has once again denied Sam Bankman-Fried’s request for temporary release from prison ahead of his trial. Bankman-Fried, former CEO of FTX, had sought release on October 2nd to prepare for his defense in a highly technical trial involving over 50 witnesses and thousands of pages of material. However, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan rejected the request without providing further explanation. Bankman-Fried’s bail was previously revoked in August due to allegations of witness tampering. He is facing charges of defrauding investors and mishandling customer funds. If convicted, Bankman-Fried could be sentenced to several decades in prison.
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