TLDR
- President Donald Trump stated that he has no plans to pardon Sam Bankman-Fried.
- Bankman-Fried is serving a 25-year sentence for fraud and conspiracy related to FTX.
- Trump made the statement during a two-hour interview with The New York Times.
- Bankman-Fried donated millions to Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign.
- Trump confirmed he will not offer clemency to Bankman-Fried despite his crypto support.
President Donald Trump has stated he does not intend to pardon jailed FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, despite growing public attention. During a two-hour interview with The New York Times, Trump discussed various legal matters and rejected clemency for several high-profile figures. The former crypto executive is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for fraud and conspiracy charges.
Trump Rejects Clemency for Sam Bankman-Fried
President Trump said he has no intention of pardoning Sam Bankman-Fried, who was convicted in 2023 for defrauding customers. The former FTX CEO misused billions of client funds and is currently appealing his conviction through the legal system.
During the interview, Trump dismissed any suggestion that he might offer clemency. “No plans to pardon him,” he told The New York Times when asked directly.
Bankman-Fried, once one of the largest donors to the Democratic Party, supported President Biden’s 2020 campaign. He contributed $5.2 million to efforts aimed at defeating Trump. That political history could further complicate any attempt to seek favor from Trump’s administration.
The interview also covered other controversial figures, including Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, Sen. Bob Menendez, and Sean “Diddy” Combs. Trump ruled out pardons for all of them, including Bankman-Fried.
Trump defended his stance by saying he only supports cases he finds fair. He reiterated that past decisions were based on personal review and justice, not politics.
When asked about other past pardons, Trump noted the previous clemency granted to Ross Ulbricht and Changpeng Zhao. However, he emphasized that each case was judged individually and based on different standards.
Bankman-Fried’s Appeal and Continued Public Activity
Since his conviction, Bankman-Fried has remained vocal through his X account, operated by a close associate. In recent posts, he praised Trump’s past pardons, particularly for former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández.
Despite this outreach, Trump showed no interest in changing his stance. He made it clear that Bankman-Fried’s political ties and criminal case disqualify him from clemency consideration.
Bankman-Fried’s legal team is working on an appeal, though no new trial has been granted. Court documents reveal his attorneys are challenging the evidence used during the 2023 trial.
Trump Backs Crypto While Dismissing SBF
Trump used the interview to express continued support for the cryptocurrency industry and digital assets. “I got a lot of votes because I backed crypto, and I got to like it,” he said.
He also mentioned his family’s ventures in the crypto space, including a DeFi project, World Liberty Financial. The venture lists Trump and his sons as co-founders, with the family also owning shares in a Bitcoin mining firm.
Despite his crypto support, Trump did not extend any sympathy toward Bankman-Fried. He made a clear distinction between backing digital assets and pardoning individuals involved in fraud.
Court records confirm Bankman-Fried’s conviction for wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering. Prosecutors argued that he knowingly misled investors and used funds for personal and political gain.
Bankman-Fried remains incarcerated and has not received any formal support from Trump’s administration. His appeals process continues with no comment from the Department of Justice.
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