FTX’s Bankman-Fried could ‘conceivably’ have bail revoked, says judge

Feb 16. 2023

By Luke Huigsloot

A federal judge said there was “probable cause” to believe that SBF engaged in activities that could land him in jail until his trial in October.

Sam Bankman-Fried could “conceivably” have his bail revoked after a federal judge said there was “probable cause” to believe the former FTX CEO may have engaged in attempted witness tampering. 

During a Feb. 16 hearing on Bankman-Fried’s bail conditions, Judge Lewis Kaplan said there was “probable cause to believe that he [Bankman-Fried] has committed or attempted to commit a federal felony while on release, namely witness tampering,” according to multiple reports.

Kaplan suggested that this could “conceivably” see the FTX founder sent back to jail until his trial in October.

Kaplan noted however that the Feb. 16 hearing was not a bail revocation hearing, but added that it “could get there, conceivably.”

"Why am I being asked to turn him loose in this garden of electronic devices?” Kaplan reportedly said.

Law professor Richard Painter echoed the sentiment in a Feb. 17 tweet, suggesting that witness tampering might not be a good idea given his current circumstances:

On Feb. 15, prosecutors asked Judge Kaplan to further restrict Bankman-Fried’s device usage to a single monitored computer and cellphone.

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