The legal professionals representing the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a brand new court docket doc on Aug. 29 arguing that Sam “SBF” Bankman-Fried ought to present additional disclosures to his deliberate defense.
The doc referred to as the present proposed argument, which claims his legal professionals accredited of his alleged fraud whereas he was nonetheless at FTX, “irrelevant.” The submitting requests that the court docket order the defendant to obtain “additional notice” and “pretrial discovery.”
“If the defendant does not provide additional disclosures, the court should preclude irrelevant, confusing, and prejudicial questioning, evidence, and arguments about the involvement of attorneys.”
Previously, the legal professionals representing SBF argued that the legal team leading FTX led him to behave “in good faith” and that “reliance on counsel is relevant to the question of intent.”
The former authorized crew behind FTX was hit with a lawsuit on Aug. 7 alleging that it had set up “shadowy entities” that set the executives as much as implement “creative but illegal strategies” to perpetuate fraud.
Attorney Damian Williams, who penned the current letter to the court docket, argued that Bankman-Fried must specify the authorized recommendation he was given or else rethink his defense.
The DOJ mentioned the defendant has not offered an “exhaustive” checklist of the matters in which there’s claimed to be lawyer involvement. Additionally, SBF has but to determine “the contours of the attorney involvement” nor the bases and particulars of the defense. He additionally famous the shortage of paperwork in assist of, impeaching or undermining his defense.
Related: Sam Bankman-Fried’s lawyers appeal decision on bail, citing First Amendment issues
The day after the submitting, on Aug. 30, SBF’s lawyer Mark Cohen responded to the DOJ’s submitting, countering that “sufficient” disclosures had already been made concerning the defense and saying his consumer’s situations in jail violate the U.S. Constitution.
“At the present time, the defense is unable to adequately prepare for trial and prepare the defense, which is a violation of Mr. Bankman-Fried’s Sixth Amendment rights.”
He additionally referred to as the accessible web connection “woefully inadequate.” On Aug. 23, the court docket dominated that SBF could meet with his lawyers exterior of jail with a 48-hour discover.
In response, on Aug. 25, the legal professionals pushed for temporary release and objected to the aforementioned deal.
SBF has already pleaded not responsible to a number of counts of fraud within the aftermath of the FTX collapse in November 2022.
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