The names of two guarantors who signed part of Sam Bankman-Fried’s $250 million bail will remain secret for now.
A judge also rejected a settlement that would have allowed Bankman-Fried to use certain messaging apps.
Bankman Fried’s attorneys filed a appeal to block the release of the names of the guarantors at the last minute on February 7. The appeal contained no further arguments against disclosure, but will hold the order from being enforced until February 14 to allow for a further stay request.
The appeal was expected after a January 30 ruling in which US District Judge Lewis Kaplan granted a joint petition by eight major news outlets seeking to reveal the names of guarantors.
At the time, Kaplan noted that his order was likely to be appealed given the novelty of the circumstances.
He voiced the arguments of Bankman-Fried’s lawyers that the guarantors would “face similar encroachments” as Bankman-Fried’s parents lacked merit given the much smaller size of their individual bonds, at $200,000 and $500,000.
Bankman Fried’s parents, Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried, were the other two parties to sign the bond.
In addition, the judge said that the guarantors had voluntarily signed individual bonds in a “highly publicized criminal proceeding” and thus opened themselves up to public scrutiny.
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Meanwhile, on February 7, Kaplan rejected a joint agreement between Bankman-Fried’s legal team and prosecutors that would have changed bail conditions and allowed Bankman-Fried to use certain messaging apps.
Kaplan did not provide a reason for rejecting the motion, but added that the issue would be discussed further at a hearing on February 9.
Kaplan ruled on February 1 that Bankman-Fried was barred from contacting FTX or Alameda Research employees citing a risk of “inappropriate contact with potential witnesses” after it was revealed the former CEO had been contacting previous staff. and current.
