Sam Bankman-Fried’s Legal Team Requests Pre-Trial Release Due to Poor Internet Access
Sam Bankman-Fried’s legal team has once again asked for their client’s pre-trial release, citing inadequate internet access in the federal jail. In a filing submitted on Friday, Bankman-Fried’s lawyers argued that their client is unable to review defense documents due to the poor internet connectivity. The defense team claimed that they have lost valuable time in preparing for trial due to the conditions at the jail. Despite assurances from the government that Bankman-Fried would have access to a laptop on weekdays, those hours have not been granted in practice. The defense team highlighted instances where Bankman-Fried was called back to his cell for a headcount, costing him hours of preparation time. They also stated that the internet access in the cellblock is extremely limited, hindering their ability to prepare for trial effectively.
Bankman-Fried’s Defense Preparation Proves Challenging
The defense team’s preparation for the FTX case has become a logistical nightmare due to the massive volume of documents involved. On August 28, federal prosecutors shared approximately four million pages, which the defense team deemed too overwhelming to review, even with unlimited time. Initially, Bankman-Fried was allowed to prepare for his defense from his parent’s home in Palo Alto, California, with some internet access restrictions. However, he was taken into custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Manhattan due to concerns about witness tampering. The defense team requested temporary release from jail to work on his defense at the federal courthouse, emphasizing the hindrances posed by poor internet connectivity and limited battery life. However, Judge Lewis Kaplan declined the request during a hearing.
Prosecutors Claim Sufficient Internet Access for Bankman-Fried
In response to the request for pre-trial release, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) argued that Bankman-Fried has adequate access to a laptop for his defense. The prosecutors stated that the internet speed in the jail fluctuates between 7.5 Mbps and 34 Mbps, which they consider sufficient for most internet-related review activities.
Hot Take: Bankman-Fried’s Legal Team Continues to Face Challenges
Sam Bankman-Fried’s legal team is encountering ongoing difficulties in preparing his defense due to poor internet access in the federal jail. Despite assurances from the government, Bankman-Fried has not been granted the promised hours to access a laptop for document review. This lack of access has resulted in lost time and hindered trial preparations. The defense team has highlighted the enormous volume of documents in the FTX case, making it challenging to review them all. Additionally, Bankman-Fried’s initial ability to prepare for defense from home was revoked when he was taken into custody. Despite multiple requests for pre-trial release, the court has declined, citing the availability of a laptop and adequate internet speed in the jail. However, the defense team insists that these conditions are insufficient for effective trial preparation.
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