Sam Bankman-Fried legal representatives are once again requesting his release from custody. The Department of Justice, on the other hand, contends that his access to a laptop meets his needs. This situation arises as Bankman-Fried awaits his upcoming trial, slated for early October.
Bankman-Fried, who is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, has access to a dedicated laptop during specific hours. The U.S. Department of Justice communicated this to Judge Lewis A. Kaplan in an official statement. Access is provided on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and on weekends and holidays from 8:00a.m. to 3:30p.m.
The prosecutors reported, “Up to this point, no issues have arisen concerning the functionality of the USB ports and software applications in use.” Additionally, it was disclosed that Bankman-Fried currently has three hard drives at his disposal. Furthermore, the MDC has approved the use of a second isolated laptop, conveniently stored near his housing unit.
The prosecutors submitted this report in response to the judge’s directive on August 30. The directive instructed them to provide a letter clarifying the status of Bankman-Fried’s access to discovery.
Key Points in Sam Bankman-Fried’s Request for Temporary Release and Access to Resources
Conversely, on Tuesday, Bankman-Fried’s legal team argued that, given the existing arrangement, he doesn’t have a sufficient opportunity to prepare his defense. They highlighted that on Friday, September 1, 2023, Bankman-Fried could only work a full day with his materials at the MDC.
However, contrary to the plan, MDC personnel required him to leave the visiting room at around 2:30 p.m. to return to his unit for a headcount, resulting in a loss of 4.5 hours of potential work time.
Sam Bankman-Fried’s legal team has consistently requested temporary release for the former FTX CEO. This would enable him to review essential documents in preparation for his upcoming trial.On Tuesday, Bankman-Fried’s attorneys reasserted their plea for his temporary release.
Controversy Surrounding Conditions in the 500 Pearl Street Cell Block for Sam Bankman-Fried
Another point of dispute centers on the conditions in the 500 Pearl Street cell block. Prosecutors confirm that Bankman-Fried has access to an internet-enabled laptop in this cell block for at least two days per week. The defense counsel has provided a new 9-cell battery, which offers approximately 8 hours of battery life.
Bankman-Fried’s legal representatives argue that it’s too early to determine the effectiveness of procedures in the 500 Pearl Street cell block. They noted that his previous move to the cell block led to wasted time due to unreliable internet connectivity. Additionally, the laptop provided there didn’t have enough charge to support a full 5 hours of work.
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