Sam Bankman-Fried's Parents Seek Presidential Pardon from Trump for Son

The parents of Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced former CEO of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, are reportedly making efforts to secure a presidential pardon for their son from Donald Trump. Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried, both professors at Stanford Law School, and big Democratic donors, have been actively engaging with legal representatives and associates close to Trump's administration in hopes of navigating this complex legal terrain.

Recent discussions have taken place with lawyers who have connections to Trump's inner circle. These meetings aim to explore the possibility of clemency for Bankman-Fried, who is currently serving a substantial 25-year sentence for his involvement in one of the largest financial frauds in history. However, it remains uncertain whether any direct communications have been made with Trump or his campaign team, as both parents and Bankman-Fried's legal representatives have chosen to remain silent on the matter.

SBF's Clemency Request

The pursuit of a pardon in this scenario is particularly noteworthy given Trump's track record with clemency. During his tenure, Trump has demonstrated a proclivity for granting pardons in high-profile cases, including that of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road, which has emboldened other white-collar defendants to seek similar outcomes. This has resulted in an uptick in informal clemency requests, bypassing the traditional channels through the Department of Justice. Legal advisors specializing in white-collar crimes have noted a significant increase in clients exploring this route, leveraging any possible political connections for a chance at leniency.

Furthermore, Trump's approach to clemency seems to favor those who frame their legal troubles as politically motivated. This perspective was echoed by Roger Ver, and early pioneer in Bitcoin who is endearingly known in the crypto community as Bitcoin Jesus, and has said his own legal challenges is being driven by political agendas, hinting at a pattern in Trump's decision-making process regarding pardons.