Sam Bankman-Fried, serving 25 years for FTX fraud, formally applied for a pardon, citing no direct White House contact.
Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced FTX founder, has formally filed for a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. The application, submitted to the Office of the Pardon Attorney, seeks relief after completing his 25-year sentence for fraud and conspiracy charges related to FTX’s collapse.
Bankman-Fried was convicted in 2024 and has maintained his innocence, claiming no user funds were stolen. The pardon process may take months or years, with no guarantee of approval. He confirmed no direct communication with the White House but suggested others close to him may have.
The filing follows Bankman-Fried’s recent interview from prison, where he stated he would “absolutely” accept a pardon. Details of the application remain undisclosed, as pardon requests are not made public.