Federal prosecutors have requested that former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried’s bail conditions be changed to prevent further alleged attempts to influence witness testimony.
Court documents filed on January 27 revealed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had asked United States District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan to bar Bankman-Fried from communicating with “current or former employees” of FTX or Alameda. .
Prosecutors have requested it after they allege that Bankman-Fried contacted Ryne Miller, current General Counsel of FTX US, via Signal and email on January 15, attempting to “sway” Miller’s testimony. . The document quoted:
“I’d really love to talk again and see if there’s a way we can have a constructive relationship, use each other as resources when possible, or at least look into things between us.”
Prosecutors also requested that Bankman-Fried be barred from using encrypted communication apps.
“Defendant will not use any encrypted or ephemeral calling or messaging applications, including but not limited to Signal.”
The document further alleged that Bankman-Fried’s use of Signal is consistent with “a history” of using the app for obstructionist purposes.
In December 2022 it was reported that Bankman-Fried had denied any involvement with or knowledge of a “Wirefraud” group chat on Signal, hours before his arrest by Bahamas police.
The group reportedly included members of Bankman-Fried’s inner circle, including FTX co-founder Zixiao “Gary” Wang, FTX engineer Nishad Singh, and former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison, who allegedly used the group to send secret information about FTX and Alameda in the run up to bankruptcy.
This comes after lawyers representing FTX in bankruptcy proceedings argued on Jan. 26 that Bankman-Fried’s immediate family should be questioned about any financial benefits they may have received from the exchange.
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