Trump Shuts Door on SBF Pardon Despite Family Lobbying
Trump told the New York Times Wednesday he won't pardon Sam Bankman-Fried. Period. No wiggle room there.
Quick overview
- Trump confirmed he will not pardon Sam Bankman-Fried, stating there is no room for negotiation.
- Despite SBF's previous praise for Trump's pardoning of other figures, including Juan Orlando Hernández, Trump has drawn a clear line against granting clemency to him.
- SBF's parents have been lobbying for a reduced sentence for nine months, but their efforts have not influenced Trump's decision.
- SBF is currently serving a 25-year sentence for fraud and conspiracy, with his claims of FTX's solvency being largely dismissed.
Trump told the New York Times Wednesday he won’t pardon Sam Bankman-Fried. Period. No wiggle room there.
The question came up while discussing Sean Combs, who apparently sent Trump a letter begging for clemency. Reporter asked about other high-profile inmates. SBF’s name got mentioned. Trump said no.
Timing’s interesting. Last month SBF went on X praising Trump for pardoning Juan Orlando Hernández, the former Honduran president. Called him one of the most deserving. Hernández did 45 years for drug trafficking before Trump let him walk. SBF probably figured if Trump freed that guy, maybe there’s a shot. SBF probably thought that signaled something.
Didn’t work. Trump’s drawn a line. He pardoned CZ from Binance back in October, framed it as ending Biden’s “war on crypto.” Also pardoned Ross Ulbricht from Silk Road, BitMEX founders, bunch of other crypto figures. But SBF? Nope.
Makes sense when you think about it. SBF threw $5.2 million at Biden’s 2020 campaign. Specifically wanted Trump gone. Asking that same guy for clemency years later? Yeah, good luck with that. Also, the FTX fraud investigation started before Biden even took office. Customer losses, internal records, whole thing’s documented. Can’t really spin that as political persecution.
SBF’s parents have been working behind the scenes trying to get his sentence reduced. They’ve held meetings with lawyers, people close to Trump, anyone with connections. Nine months of lobbying since January 2025. Didn’t matter.
Guy’s doing 25 years. Got convicted in 2023 on seven fraud and conspiracy counts for stealing billions from FTX customers. Ordered to pay back $11 billion. His lawyers filed an appeal in November claiming he was “presumed guilty before he was even charged.” That defense isn’t landing with Trump.
SBF’s been active on X lately through a proxy (his friend posts his words). Keeps arguing FTX was actually solvent when it collapsed, that bankruptcy estates are mismanaging funds. Same themes over and over. Nobody’s buying it.
The pardon request also came alongside asks for Nicolas Maduro and Robert Menendez. Trump said no to all of them. When asked about Derek Chauvin separately, Trump said nobody’s asked him about that one.
Trump’s been aggressive with pardons overall. Used his clemency power constantly for allies and people he thinks got railroaded by DOJ. But he’s not showing SBF any sympathy. FTX wiped out $8 billion in customer funds according to court filings. That’s not the kind of thing you can reframe as a weaponized Justice Department going after someone unfairly.
- Check out our free forex signals
- Follow the top economic events on FX Leaders economic calendar
- Trade better, discover more Forex Trading Strategies
- Open a FREE Trading Account
Save