The chance of FTX’s co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) being freed from incarceration has emerged once more. This development follows his desperate political attempts to secure a presidential pardon from Donald Trump.
Sam Bankman-Fried Aims To Win Over Donald Trump
Sam Bankman-Fried is attempting to ingratiate himself with Donald Trump and potentially receive a pardon from the US president. In a recent interview with the New York Sun, SBF aimed to throw the Democratic party and the Biden administration under scrutiny in hopes of garnering sympathy from Trump and the Republican party.
The crypto entrepreneur expressed that he felt particularly “frustrated and disheartened by what [he] witnessed in Biden’s administration and the Democratic party.” It should be noted that SBF was one of the largest benefactors of the Democratic party prior to his conviction for fraud and misappropriation of client funds, eventually being sentenced to 25 years on March 28, 2024.
The co-founder of FTX also attempted to elicit support from the current administration by endorsing Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E), which is focused on reducing government expenditures. SBF stated that certain areas require more than a 10% reduction and suggested that cuts could reach as high as 30, 50, and 70%.
Up to this point, SBF has consistently asserted his innocence. During the interview, he reiterated his belief that no one was culpable, concerning himself and other FTX executives who were convicted.
Previously, Bitcoinist reported that Sam Bankman-Fried’s parents were appealing to Donald Trump to obtain a presidential pardon for their child. Hence, this interview might serve as one of the strategies SBF and his family are employing to attract the president’s notice.
SBF Also Critiques Biden’s Judiciary System
Sam Bankman-Fried additionally condemned Judge Lewis Kaplan, the presiding judge in his case, along with the Department of Justice (DOJ) under Biden’s administration. The crypto founder expressed concern over the “politicization of the DOJ over recent decades,” although he noted that conditions seem to be shifting under Trump.
Remarkably, Kaplan was also the same judge overseeing the civil suit against Trump, which led to a verdict that he had sexually abused and defamed E. Jean Carroll. SBF sought to capitalize on this shared concern with Trump, noting that he is aware the US president has experienced significant frustration with Judge Kaplan. He added that he feels the same way.
Last year, Sam Bankman-Fried filed an appeal, citing among his main arguments that Judge Kaplan was prejudiced. He contended that the Judge had proclaimed him guilty from the beginning and failed to provide a fair trial in his situation.
Sam Bankman-Fried may become the second crypto convict pardoned by US President Donald Trump. The president already granted a pardon to Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, a commitment he made even prior to taking office.
Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com