At this time, neither of the two guarantors who backed a portion of Sam Bankman-250 Fried’s million-dollar bail will have their identities released to the public.

A court also ruled against an agreement that would have allowed Bankman-Fried to use certain messaging apps. This decision was made by the judge.

On February 7, at the last minute, Bankman Fried’s lawyers filed an appeal to stop the publication of the identities of the guarantors. The appeal did not include further reasons against disclosure; however, it will delay execution of the order until February 14 to allow for a request for a second stay of execution.

Following the January 30 trial in which United States District Judge Lewis Kaplan approved a combined petition from eight prominent media sites seeking to reveal the identities of the guarantors, it was anticipated that the appeal.

Given the unprecedented nature of the situation, Kaplan noted that his decision was likely to be challenged in court.

He asserted that the arguments made by Bankman-lawyers Fried’s that the guarantors would “face similar encroachments” as the Bankman-parents Fried’s were without merit given that the size of their individual bonds was much smaller, at $200,000 and $500,000. He said Bankman’s lawyers, Fried’s, had no right to make such arguments.

Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried, Bankman Fried’s parents, were the other two parties to sign the bond. The bond was approved by all four parties.

Furthermore, the court said that the sureties had freely signed individual bonds in a “highly publicized criminal proceeding”, and thus had come under the scrutiny of the general public as a result of their actions.

Meanwhile, on February 7, Kaplan decided not to approve a joint agreement that had been negotiated between the Bankman-legal Fried team and the prosecution. This deal would have changed Bankman-bail Fried’s restrictions and allowed him to use certain messaging apps.

Although Kaplan did not cite a reason for denying the request, he did mention that more will be discussed on the matter at a hearing scheduled for February 9.

After it came to light that the former CEO had been communicating with current and former staff members, Judge Kaplan issued a ruling on February 1 barring Bankman-Fried from contacting FTX or Alameda Research employees. The judge justified this decision by citing the potential for “inappropriate contact with potential witnesses.”