In a recent development, the United States Appeals Court has rejected disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s (SBF) latest plea for release from jail pending trial. The court’s order, which declared, “Upon due consideration, it is hereby ORDERED that the motion for release pending trial is DENIED,” underscores the challenges SBF faces in securing his freedom ahead of the impending legal proceedings.
The court filing points to “probable cause” to believe that SBF committed criminal offenses while on pretrial release, leading the district court to progressively tighten the conditions of his release. The document highlights the thorough consideration of relevant factors by the district court, including SBF’s conduct over time.
SBF’s assertion that his First Amendment rights were not adequately considered was dismissed by the court, which explicitly stated it was “exceptionally mindful of the defendant’s First Amendment rights.” The filing also alleges that SBF engaged in witness tampering while on pretrial release.
The key witness in question is Caroline Ellison, SBF’s former girlfriend and now a crucial figure in the prosecution’s case. SBF has been accused of attempting to intimidate Ellison by releasing her writings to the media. In response, SBF argues that his actions were aimed at protecting his reputation rather than intimidating the witness.
SBF’s legal team has previously declared, “It is unclear how a cooperating witness who has promised to testify against a defendant could be meaningfully threatened by nothing but their statements being published by a reputable newspaper.”
The court’s decision follows a series of attempts by SBF to secure bail and make substantial alterations to his prison conditions before the trial. While some minor adjustments were made, the judge maintained a firm stance against releasing SBF back into the public.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the denial of SBF’s latest bid for release adds another layer to the complex and controversial case, highlighting the challenges faced by the founder of one of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges.