The defense attorneys for disgraced former FTX chief executive Sam Bankman-Fried are being granted unlimited access to their client in prison.
In a recent filing, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan says he is granting Bankman-Fried’s lawyers limitless access to meet with him while he’s in jail awaiting his trial in October as long as a 48-hour notice is given in advance.
“Pending the Court’s resolution of the dispute between the government and the defendant concerning defendant’s access to discovery materials in view of his detention and unless otherwise ordered, the government and the USMS (United States Marshals Service) shall make available to the defendant, if he elects to avail himself of the government’s offer set out in the last three paragraphs of the government’s letter of August 18, 2023, the accommodations there set forth commencing August 21, 2023.
To whatever extent the defendant elects to meet with counsel in the courthouse cell block, he shall give notice to the government and the USMS at least 48 hours in advance of any requested meeting date.”
Earlier this week, Bankman-Fried’s lawyers reportedly wrote a letter to Judge Kaplan asking him if their client could be let out five days a week to review documents.
Bankman-Fried was originally arrested in December 2022, a month after the collapse of FTX, and is facing charges of defrauding investors and mishandling billions of dollars worth of customer funds. Initially, he was placed under house arrest after posting a staggering $250 million bail.
However, his bail was revoked earlier this month after he was allegedly found to be tampering with witness.
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