The Department of Justice Requests Sam Bankman-Fried’s Detention
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has requested that Sam Bankman-Fried, former CEO of FTX, a now-defunct exchange, be held in custody. This request was made in a letter addressed to Judge Lewis Kaplan of the United States District Court for the Southern area of New York. Bankman-Fried is facing charges of witness tampering and unauthorized release of private writings belonging to Ellison, a journalist for The New York Times, which allegedly harmed her reputation.
The Department of Justice Disagrees with the Defense
The Department of Justice strongly disagrees with the defense’s argument that denying Bankman-Fried’s bail would violate his right to freedom of expression. They argue that Bankman-Fried went so far as to exercise his First Amendment right by speaking to the media in an attempt to weaken the credibility of the witness and influence the verdict. Therefore, the Department of Justice believes it is appropriate to deny Bankman-Fried’s bail application and keep him in custody until his trial.
The Department of Justice Believes Bankman-Fried Intended to Damage Ellison’s Credibility
The defense argued that the journalist from The New York Times already knew about Ellison’s journals, but the Department of Justice disagreed. They claimed that Bankman-Fried may have tipped off the journalist about the diaries before the article was written. Prosecutors believe Bankman-Fried intended to damage Ellison’s credibility, as she is a cooperating witness for the government and emotionally engages prospective jurors in the case.
Concerns About Bankman-Fried’s Participation in His Defense
Bankman-Fried’s attorneys are concerned that he won’t be able to fully participate in his defense due to apparent employment issues in the Capital Detention Center (MDC). However, the Department of Justice confirms that all prisoners in the DC detention center have access to full participation opportunities in their defense.
Bankman-Fried’s Bail Decision Pending
After hearing from both parties, the judge will decide whether or not to revoke Bankman-Fried’s bail and detain him in custody until his trial.
