TLDR Sam Bankman-Fried formally applied for a presidential pardon through the Justice Department’s Pardon Attorney’s Office. The former FTX CEO is serving a 25-year prison sentence imposed in
Sam Bankman-Fried has formally asked President Donald Trump for a presidential pardon following his fraud conviction tied to FTX. Justice Department records show he requested a “pardon after completion of sentence” more than two years after trial. He continues serving a 25-year prison term imposed in March 2024.
Justice Department records confirm that Sam Bankman-Fried submitted a clemency request through the Office of the Pardon Attorney. Bloomberg Tax first reported the filing, citing entries on the department’s public website. The record lists his request as a “pardon after completion of sentence,” though he remains incarcerated.
He filed the request more than two years after a jury convicted him on fraud and conspiracy charges. Prosecutors secured the conviction over FTX’s 2022 collapse, which erased billions in customer and investor funds. The court later sentenced him to 25 years in federal prison in March 2024.
The application places the matter before the White House for executive consideration. President Trump has exercised broad pardon powers during his second term. His clemency actions have included relief for several white-collar defendants.
Bankman-Fried has publicly stated that he seeks executive clemency and hopes to secure a pardon. In a recent FOX Business interview, he said he “absolutely” wants presidential relief. However, he deferred final authority to the White House and avoided details on family lobbying efforts.
He argued in the interview that prosecutors pursued the case unjustly. He also claimed that creditors have largely recovered funds as crypto markets rebounded. Court filings and restructuring efforts have outlined repayments through bankruptcy proceedings.
During the same interview, he expressed regret about missing the artificial intelligence surge. He praised Elon Musk’s companies, including SpaceX, for their execution and long-term prospects. His comments followed years of legal proceedings tied to the FTX failure.
A federal jury convicted him in 2023 after weeks of testimony from former executives and customers. Prosecutors accused him of misusing customer deposits to fund risky trades and political donations. The court imposed the 25-year sentence after weighing financial losses and trial evidence.
The Justice Department website now lists his clemency request as pending review. The White House has not issued a public response to the application. Bankman-Fried remains in federal custody while the executive review process proceeds.
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