As the trial date for Sam Bankman-Fried draws near, scheduled for October 3, fresh disputes over newly released evidence have come to the forefront. On August 25, a federal court was presented with the challenge of reviewing the defense's argument against the recent inclusion of four million pages of discovery evidence, all of which were submitted by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in the preceding six weeks.
A day after, on August 26, Judge Lewis Kaplan issued a directive, urging the federal government to address concerns raised by Bankman-Fried's attorneys. The main issues outlined were the late provision of these discovery documents and the defense's plea to disallow any evidence that was provided post July 1.
Former FTX CEO, Bankman-Fried, is facing significant legal challenges. He's been charged with a total of 12 criminal counts, notably including allegations of misusing user funds for various purposes like personal expenditure, investments, and even contributions to political campaigns. The court has decided to split the case, and these charges will be deliberated upon in two separate trials, one in October 2023 and the next in March 2024.
In the recent turn of events, Bankman-Fried has categorically denied the latest charges against him, namely fraud and money laundering, as stated in the revised indictment. His plea of not guilty was officially recorded earlier this week.
Additionally, conditions at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where Bankman-Fried has been held since his bail was revoked on August 11, have become a point of concern. His legal representatives stated that the facility's inability to offer vegan meal choices has left him with no option but to consume a basic diet of bread, peanut butter, and water. More alarming, however, are reports suggesting he has not been administered his essential medications since his incarceration.
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