Last Updated on September 6, 2023 by Bitfinsider

Prosecutors stated Tuesday that Sam Bankman-Fried, the incarcerated founder of the defunct crypto exchange FTX, has been allowed adequate time and access to a laptop to review discovery as he awaits his trial, which is presently scheduled for early October.

The US Department of Justice stated in a letter to Judge Lewis A. Kaplan that Bankman-Fried, who is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Centre, has access to an air-gapped laptop at a visiting room from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

“To date, there have been no reported issues with the functionality of the USB ports and software applications utilised thus far,” the prosecutors said, adding that he has three hard drives and that the MDC has approved the use of a second air-gapped laptop, which can be stored in an area adjacent to his housing unit for added convenience.

The prosecution’ report came after the judge ordered them to send a letter describing the status of Bankman-Fried’s discovery access on August 30.

Bankman-Fried’s attorneys, on the other hand, claimed in a Tuesday filing that even under the current system, he “will not have a meaningful opportunity to prepare his defence.”

“On Friday, September 1, 2023, Mr. Bankman-Fried was able to work a full day with his materials at the MDC for the first time.” However, MDC officials informed Mr. Bankman-Fried that he needed to leave the visiting room about 2:30pm and return to his ward for the count. This cost him 4.5 hours of potential work time, according to his lawyers.