Sam Bankman-Fried of FTX tries to rig testimony-Judge
2023.02.17 01:45
Sam Bankman-Fried of FTX tries to rig testimony-Judge
By Tiffany Smith
Budrigannews.com – After a federal judge stated that there was “probable cause” to believe the former FTX CEO may have attempted witness tampering, Sam Bankman-Fried may “conceivably” have his bail revoked.
According to multiple reports, Judge Lewis Kaplan stated that there was “probable cause to believe that he [Bankman-Fried] has committed or attempted to commit a federal felony while on release, namely witness tampering” during a Feb. 16 hearing on the conditions of Bankman-Fried’s bail.
Kaplan suggested that the FTX founder might be remanded in prison until his trial in October as a result of this.
However, Kaplan added that the Feb. 16 hearing “could get there, conceivably” despite the fact that it was not a bail revocation hearing.
“Why am I being asked to release him into this electronic device garden?” Apparently, Kaplan stated.
In a tweet on February 17, law professor Richard Painter echoed the sentiment and suggested that, given his current circumstances, witness tampering might not be a good idea:
“Hi Crypto Brother: While out on bail, witness tampering is a great way to immediately return to jail.
Prosecutors requested that Judge Kaplan further limit Bankman-Fried’s device use to a single monitored computer and cellphone on February 15.
The prosecution sought to further restrict and monitor Bankman-Fried’s device use “with limited exceptions,” citing the recent use of the device as cause for concern.
Judge Kaplan said during the hearing that it was naive to think that these restrictions would stop Bankman-Fried from using the internet because he lives with his two parents, both of whom have cellphones and laptops.
Kaplan suggested that revoke Bankman-Fried’s bail could eliminate these risks, noting that prosecutor Nicholas Roos seemed to agree, implying that there may not be a “great solution.” Roos’s comments led Kaplan to suggest that:
“There is a solution, but no one has yet suggested it.”
However, Bankman-Fried’s attorneys argued that he must be able to work on his defense, stating: Without him, we cannot examine these extensive financial records.
Since it was discovered that he had contacted potential witnesses, the former CEO of FTX has not been able to use certain messaging apps. After prosecutors accused him of using a virtual private network (VPN) on two occasions—on Jan. 29 and Feb. 12—he was also subject to a temporary ban.
The hearing on February 16 did not extend the VPN ban.
The fact that Bankman-Fried has not yet had his bail revoked has baffled many outside and inside the crypto community.
If so, why? What specific influence does @SBF_FTX have over the prosecution that prevents them from demanding the immediate cancellation of his bail? Or do they believe that if he flips, he can take down Binance? Is he showing them that? because there is no other way to explain this.
