FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried formally applied for a presidential pardon, more than two years after he was convicted over the multi-billion dollar collapse of his once-thriving cryptocurrency empire.<\/p>\n
The 34-year-old submitted an application to the Justice Department\u2019s Pardon Attorney Office, according to the office\u2019s website, requesting a \u201cpardon after completion of sentence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bankman-Fried has been using social media and interviews with conservative news outlets to angle for executive relief from President Donald Trump, whose embrace of the clemency power during his second term has benefitted dozens of white-collar defendants. Trump told the New York Times in January that he had no plans to pardon Bankman-Fried.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nSam Bankman-Fried, cofundador de FTX, en una comparecencia ante el tribunal en 2023.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2024 after he was convicted of orchestrating a fraud at FTX that cost lenders, customers and investors $10 billion.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the White House declined to comment, but referred to Trump\u2019s comments in the New York Times interview. A spokesperson for the Justice Department declined to comment. Representatives for Bankman-Fried didn\u2019t immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n
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Bankman-Fried\u2019s petition follows the Justice Department process for leniency used by thousands of people every year \u2014 a system Trump has often sidestepped in his second term. Beyond that channel is a supercharged pardon economy, in which some lawyers quote as much $1 million to put cases together and get them in front of the White House for consideration, Bloomberg News has reported. Bankman-Fried\u2019s notice doesn\u2019t specify who filed his petition.<\/p>\n
\u2018Absolutely\u2019 wants pardon<\/span><\/h3>\nIn a recent phone interview with Fox Business, published Monday, Bankman-Fried said he \u201cabsolutely\u201d wanted a pardon from the White House. Fox Business also earlier reported on a pardon application from Bankman-Fried.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would be obviously, you know, ultimately up to the president, not up to me,\u201d Bankman-Fried said.<\/p>\n
Bankman-Fried is also awaiting a decision from New York\u2019s federal appeals court, which is considering the former billionaire\u2019s bid to have his conviction and sentence thrown out. A decision could come at anytime.<\/p>\n
From a low-security prison in California, the former Democratic megadonor has been seeking to reshape his tarnished image while making public declarations in support of the president. Posts on Bankman-Fried\u2019s X account have applauded Trump\u2019s actions in relation to the Iran War and some pardon-related decisions.<\/p>\n
The former crypto executive isn\u2019t the only person convicted of a high-profile financial crime to seek a pardon from the president in recent weeks. Martin Shkreli, widely known as the \u201cPharma Bro\u201d when he was found guilty of securities fraud in 2017, submitted a request for clemency, according to the Pardon Attorney Office website.<\/p>\n
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Shkreli, 43, who convicted of manipulating shares of a biotech company he founded, was released from federal prison in 2022 after serving almost seven years.<\/p>\n
A lawyer for Shkreli didn\u2019t immediately return an email seeking comment about the request. Shkreli, who didn\u2019t reply to an email seeking comment, posted about the request on social media last month.<\/p>\n
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Shkreli, 43, who convicted of manipulating shares of a biotech company he founded, was released from federal prison in 2022 after serving almost seven years.<\/p>\n
A lawyer for Shkreli didn\u2019t immediately return an email seeking comment about the request. Shkreli, who didn\u2019t reply to an email seeking comment, posted about the request on social media last month.<\/p>\n