Defense Accuses DOJ of Providing 'Inaccurate' Information Regarding Sam Bankman-Fried's Laptop Access
Former FTX Executive Ryan Salame Faces Potential $1.5B Forfeiture Following Guilty Plea
Sam Bankman-Fried's Laptop Gets a Fresh Battery Upgrade, DOJ Says
Formerly one of the most influential figures in the crypto industry, Sam Bankman-Fried finds himself entangled in disputes with prosecutors regarding his laptop computer privileges.
The incarcerated founder of the defunct FTX exchange possesses a laptop accessible seven days a week, along with three hard drives containing defense materials available at all times, as stated by the U.S. Department of Justice in a letter released on Tuesday. This response comes in compliance with a federal judge's directive to provide a detailed account of the conditions experienced by Bankman-Fried during his detention at the Manhattan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Bankman-Fried's legal team has contended that his release from incarceration is imperative for the progress of his defense. They conveyed this argument to Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presides over the case, emphasizing that insufficient internet access and battery life are hampering his ability to prepare adequately for his upcoming criminal trial scheduled for next month.
Following a virtual hearing conducted last week, Kaplan issued an instruction for the involved parties to compile a report addressing these matters. In their filing on Tuesday, the prosecutors indicated that Bankman-Fried currently possesses an air-gapped laptop accessible for 11 hours each weekday and 7.5 hours per day on weekends and holidays. Furthermore, Bankman-Fried has continuous access to hard drives containing defense materials.
Bankman-Fried has internet access via a laptop twice a week. Previously, defense attorneys had expressed concerns regarding the laptop's battery life and its unreliable internet connection. However, in a letter received on Tuesday, the defense team reported that they had supplied a new battery with approximately 8 hours of battery life. They also noted that the internet speed throughout the day varied between 7.5 megabits per second (mbps) and 34 mbps.
The DOJ stated in its letter that this speed is considered "sufficient for most internet review activities" a conclusion echoed by several websites which recommend 5 Mbps as the minimum requirement for smooth video streaming.
Bankman-Fried has been incarcerated since mid-August following Judge Kaplan's decision to revoke his bail. The judge determined that the FTX founder had made numerous attempts to obstruct witness testimony. Although his defense team has initiated an appeal against the bail revocation, they contend that his detention is encroaching upon his Sixth Amendment right to actively participate in his own legal defense. Consequently, they have requested temporary release for him.
Prosecutors had previously raised objections to the defense team's portrayal of the technology issues, asserting that they were indeed troublesome but not incapacitating.
