Sam Bankman-Fried Files Presidential Pardon Request as FTX Appeal Continues

Sam Bankman-Fried has formally filed a request for a presidential pardon as he continues serving a 25-year prison sentence tied to the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX. The filing, submitted through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney, seeks a pardon after completion of sentence.

The former crypto executive was convicted in 2023 on multiple fraud and conspiracy charges after prosecutors said billions of dollars belonging to FTX customers were misused. He is currently pursuing an appeal while serving his sentence at a low security federal correctional facility in Santa Barbara, California.

Trump Previously Rejected Pardon Possibility

The latest filing comes despite earlier comments from President Donald Trump indicating that he had no plans to grant clemency to Bankman-Fried. When asked about the renewed pardon effort, White House representatives pointed to those previous remarks.

Appeal Efforts Continue

Over the past year, Bankman Fried has remained active on social media, publicly commenting on political developments and expressing support for some of Trump’s decisions, including the pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández.

While the pardon request keeps another legal avenue open, there is currently no indication that the White House intends to reconsider its position.