- Sam Bankman-Fried has publicly expressed his desire for a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, according to his exclusive interview with FOX Business.
- The convicted FTX founder continues to deny committing fraud, claiming customers have been repaid more than their initial deposits.
- His parents previously sought a pardon from Trump last year, and the President has a record of granting clemency to notable figures in the crypto sector.
Convicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried recently stated he wants a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, revealing his hopes in an exclusive phone interview with FOX Business correspondent Susan Li. However, this appeal follows his March 2024 sentencing to 25 years in prison for fraud and conspiracy related to his crypto exchange’s 2022 collapse.
During the same conversation, Bankman-Fried insisted he did not commit fraud. “I didn’t steal user funds either,” he told Li, claiming customers have been repaid roughly 170% on their deposits. Consequently, he argued the lengthy prison sentence was a disservice despite this repayment.
The court found that FTX customers lost $8 billion, while equity investors and lenders to Alameda Research lost $1.7 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively. Bankman-Fried added, “I can only tell you what I think and, you know, ultimately, customers have been repaid again nearly twice what they had on the platform.”
Early last year, his parents reportedly sought a Presidential pardon for him from Donald Trump, although the call went unanswered. Meanwhile, since his inauguration, President Trump has already used his pardon power for notable figures in the crypto sector. Therefore, a potential pardon for SBF remains a possibility.
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