In what looks like a compelling argument following a revocation of bail, lawyers for Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, have argued that his defence would be compromised by his recent bail revocation, as he can’t properly evaluate the mountain of evidence which has been laid against him.
His lawyers have also complained that he is subsisting on bread and water as the prison chef has not provided the vegan diet he requires.
His lawyer Mark Cohen also claimed the dire food situation was interfering with his client’s ability to prepare for his trial, which is scheduled to start in October.
Mr Cohen also said Mr Bankman-Fried had not been provided with the attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) drug Adderall and that his supply of the medication Emsam to treat depression was running low.
Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn addressed the concerns by stating she she would ask the US Justice Department’s Bureau of Prisons, which runs the jail, to look into the claimed issues.