Sam Bankman-Fried, thefounder of the collapsed FTX, now has improved access to a laptop and internet, according tothe U.S. Department of Justice(DOJ), CoinDesk reported.
The DOJ has responded to ajudges order for a reporton the conditions faced by Bankman-Friedat the Manhattan Detention Centerin Brooklyn. The crypto executive, whohas been in jail sincemid-August, will now haveaccess to a laptop sevendays a week,and three hard drives withdefense material at all times.
The DOJs statement comes after Bankman-Frieds defense team argued that their client needed to be released fromjail to work on hisdefense. They citedpoor internet access and batterylife as limitations to his ability to prepare forhis criminal trial next month.
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Following a virtual hearing, Judge Lewis Kaplan directed both parties to compilea report on these issues.The DOJ revealed thatBankman-Fried now has access toan air-gapped laptop for 11hours a day on weekdaysand 7.5 hours a dayon weekends and holidays.
Twice a week, Bankman-Fried can use an internet-enabled laptop. The defense team had raised issues about the laptopsbattery life and weak internetconnection, but a new battery that lasts approximately 8 hours has been provided. The DOJ stated that the internet speed, which rangesfrom 7.5 megabits per second(Mbps) to 34 Mbps, issufficient for most internet reviewactivities.
Bankman-Fried is being heldafter Judge Kaplan revoked hisbail, ruling that the FTXfounder had triedto tamper with witnesses. Hisdefense team has appealed the bail revocation and argues that his detention infringes onhis Sixth Amendment right towork on his own defense.
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