FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has been granted permission by a federal judge to use an “air-gapped” laptop to take notes during his trial next month. Bankman-Fried’s defense team requested that he be allowed to use a laptop with no internet access, but with restrictions on taking it outside of the courtroom. Judge Lewis Kaplan approved the request, stating that the laptop would be the same device the defendant had used earlier this year when he was out on bail, but with network connectivity functions disabled. A paralegal will be responsible for bringing the laptop to court each morning and returning it to Bankman-Fried at the end of each trial day.
Additionally, the judge also approved an additional defense request allowing Bankman-Fried to wear a suit instead of his prison uniform during court proceedings. The U.S. Marshals Service or the Metropolitan Detention Center will need to accept and maintain Bankman-Fried’s suits, dress shirts, ties, belt, and other clothing items. Previously, Bankman-Fried had attended hearings wearing a suit, but has been in a prison uniform since being remanded into custody.
The defense team has previously made unsuccessful attempts to have Bankman-Fried temporarily released, but they have made another attempt with strict conditions imposed on the former FTX executive. The Department of Justice has until 5:00 p.m. ET to comment on the request, and a hearing has been scheduled for the following day to discuss the motion. The trial is set to begin on October 3.