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Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried has officially submitted an application for a presidential pardon to the U.S. Department of Justice. Bankman-Fried, who is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence following his 2024 conviction on multiple fraud and conspiracy charges, specifically requested a 'pardon after completion of sentence.' This type of pardon would not overturn his conviction but would restore certain civil liberties and remove barriers to employment and housing after his release.
Bankman-Fried has spent significant time publicly praising President Donald Trump and aligning himself with Republican positions, which observers characterize as an effort to secure clemency. Despite these efforts, President Trump stated in a January 2026 interview with the New York Times that he does not plan to pardon Bankman-Fried. The White House has declined to comment on the formal application, instead pointing to the President's previous public remarks indicating his opposition to such a move.
Sam Bankman-Fried has officially filed for a 'pardon after completion of sentence' through the Justice Department.
Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2024 for his role in a multi-billion dollar fraud scheme involving FTX.
President Trump stated in January 2026 that he does not intend to grant a pardon to Bankman-Fried.
The pardon request comes while Bankman-Fried's appeal of his conviction and sentence remains pending in federal court.
Bankman-Fried has publicly expressed support for the Trump administration on social media and in interviews while incarcerated.
It would not erase his conviction, but it would restore certain civil liberties, such as the right to vote or serve on a jury, and lift barriers to housing, employment, and licensing.
No; in a January 2026 interview with the New York Times, President Trump explicitly stated that he does not plan to pardon Bankman-Fried.
He was convicted of multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy, including wire fraud, securities fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, related to the collapse of his crypto exchange, FTX.
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