FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s legal team raised concerns about his jail conditions during an arraignment before Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. Bankman-Fried, who is facing charges related to the collapse of his cryptocurrency empire, had his bail revoked earlier this month, leading to his incarceration at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. His attorneys complained that his vegan diet is not being accommodated in prison, and as a result, he has been surviving mainly on bread and water.
Bankman-Fried’s defense attorney, Marc Cohen, emphasized that his client adheres to a vegan diet and has only been offered non-vegan meals in prison. To maintain his principles, Bankman-Fried has reportedly been consuming minimal sustenance, including bread, water, and occasionally peanut butter. Cohen highlighted this issue, prompting Judge Netburn to promise to address it with the Bureau of Prisons. She indicated that Bankman-Fried might be provided with at least one vegetarian meal option.
In addition to dietary concerns, Cohen informed the court that Bankman-Fried requires two medications, Adderall and Emsam. However, Adderall, which helps him focus, has not been provided to him while in jail, and he has a limited supply of Emsam.
Bankman-Fried’s legal team also raised issues related to his ability to prepare for trial. Christian Everdell, another attorney representing Bankman-Fried, discussed the challenges his client faces in accessing discovery materials. The voluminous nature of the discovery documents requires online access, which is not feasible at the Metropolitan Detention Center. Everdell argued that these limitations could impact Bankman-Fried’s Sixth Amendment rights, which guarantee a fair trial.
The defense attorneys requested the establishment of a “war room” at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, where they could meet with Bankman-Fried five days a week to prepare for trial. However, the decision regarding this request lies with U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who revoked Bankman-Fried’s bail.
Bankman-Fried, who founded FTX and Alameda Research, faces allegations of misappropriating and embezzling customer funds for various purposes. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is set to stand trial in October. The recent developments regarding his jail conditions and preparation for trial shed light on the complex legal proceedings surrounding the case.