DOJ Moves to Revoke SBF’s Bail Over Witness Tampering and Diary Leak Allegations

Based on a court filing made on July 28, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is actively seeking the revocation of Sam Bankman-Fried‘s bail, making serious accusations against him, including attempting to tamper with witnesses and leaking Caroline Ellison’s diary to The New York Times.

DOJ Moves to Revoke SBF’s Bail Over Witness Tampering and Diary Leak Allegations

As per the filing, SBF was initially released on a bond on December 22, 2022. However, he subsequently requested multiple modifications to his bail. On January 15, 2023, the defendant allegedly contacted the current general counsel of FTX US through email and the encrypted messaging app, Signal.

In this communication, purportedly expressed an interest in reconnecting and exploring the possibility of establishing a constructive relationship. He inquired about the potential of using each other as resources or providing mutual input on various matters. The usage of Signal, with its auto-deletion feature, raised concerns about obstructing the investigation. The court has expressed worry about the potential risk of witness tampering in light of SBF’s behavior.

Given the circumstances, Judge Lewis Kaplan has several options, according to John Reed Stark, former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Internet Enforcement chief. The judge could interpret SBF’s actions as an attempt to improperly influence witnesses and decide to either impose further modifications to his bail conditions or completely revoke his bail.