Judge Lewis Kaplan reportedly focused on Sam Bankman-Fried’s use of the Internet in a hearing to review the former FTX CEO’s use of a virtual private network (VPN).
According to a February 16 tweet from NPR correspondent David Gura, Judge Kaplan might have suggested that Bankman-Fried be denied access to any electronic devices and the Internet as a condition of his bail. Although SBF’s lawyers said there was no television at the California home of Joe Bankman and Barbara Fried – where the former FTX CEO has been confined since his US appearance in December – the judge responded that there was a “garden of electronic devices” with Internet access.
Bankman-Fried appeared in court for the first time in days to address the legal implications of her use of a VPN on January 29 and February 12.. SBF’s lawyers claimed that he had been watching football on the days in question, but prosecutors said the use of a VPN raised “several potential concerns.”
Prosecutors suggested restricting Bankman-Fried’s use of VPNs as a condition of his release on bail, as they have done with certain messaging apps and contact with current or former FTX and Alameda Research employees.. Judge Kaplan reportedly did not expand SBF’s bail conditions to include Internet or VPN restrictions at the hearing, but did ask his legal team to provide counsel willing to explain the implications of the technology in court.
Bankman-Fried’s criminal trial is scheduled to begin in October, when he will face eight criminal charges including wire fraud and campaign finance law violations.. The debtors in the FTX bankruptcy case have also served a summons on the former CEO, ordering him to produce certain documents and information related to his time at FTX to the court.
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