FTX Lawyers Outrage Over Inadequate Prison Internet Access
- Cary
- September 12, 2023
- Crypto, Cryptonews, News
- Crypto, FTX Lawyers, Internet Access
- 0 Comments
FTX founder’s defense argues that subpar prison Wi-Fi is hampering trial preparation, underscoring the importance of reliable internet access in the justice system.
Key Points
- FTX founder Samuel Bankman-Fried’s legal team argues that poor prison Wi-Fi is hindering his ability to prepare for a fraud trial.
- Promised access to an internet-enabled laptop twice a week, Bankman-Fried faced delays and painfully slow internet speeds, impeding document review.
- Bankman-Fried was previously under house arrest but had bail revoked due to alleged witness tampering.
- The defense highlights the importance of reliable internet access in ensuring the fair course of justice.
Having poor internet connection is not just inconvenient — it could also impact the course of justice; that is what lawyers for FTX founder Samuel Bankman-Fried are arguing in a recent court filing.
Former FTX CEO Sam “SBF” Bankman Fried's lawyers have requested a pre-trial release, citing a lack of adequate internet connectivity in the federal jail.
— unusual_whales (@unusual_whales) September 11, 2023
Inside SBF’s Internet Struggle
The defense team representing Samuel Bankman-Fried submitted a letter to U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, outlining their grievances regarding the subpar internet connection at the New York’s 500 Pearl Street cellblock. According to the court filing, Bankman-Fried’s ability to prepare for his upcoming fraud trial is being hampered due to the spotty prison Wi-Fi.
Bankman-Fried was initially promised access to an internet-enabled laptop for four to five hours twice a week in his cellblock. However, the situation is far from ideal. He was brought to the cellblock two hours after the scheduled time, cutting down the precious time meant for document review.
Upon his arrival, Bankman-Fried found himself in a holding cell without the promised laptop. When he was eventually granted access, the internet connection was excruciatingly slow, allowing him to load only one document in an hour and a half. The defense argues that these conditions make it nearly impossible for Bankman-Fried to adequately prepare for his trial.
From House Arrest to Jail Cell
Prior to the current situation, Samuel Bankman-Fried was under house arrest in Palo Alto, California. However, he found himself facing jail time after Judge Kaplan revoked his bail. The judge cited credible evidence of witness tampering, deeming Bankman-Fried as a complex client who cannot be easily controlled by a simple gag order.
While the defense plans to appeal the bail revocation, their request for a delay in detention was denied. It should be noted that Bankman-Fried was originally released on a hefty $250 million personal recognizance bond last December.
The poor internet connection in the prison not only inconveniences Bankman-Fried, but it also affects his ability to review documents and adequately prepare for his upcoming fraud trial. The defense’s argument is that the lack of proper internet access hinders the course of justice, emphasizing the importance of reliable internet connection as a basic necessity in today’s society.
