Sam Bankman-Fried has formally filed a request for a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, even though the president has previously said he wouldn't grant one. The move comes as Bankman-Fried remains in federal custody following his conviction on fraud charges.
The Pardon Application
Bankman-Fried submitted the paperwork to the White House this week, according to the filing. The application is now in the hands of the Office of the Pardon Attorney, which reviews such requests before making a recommendation to the president. A pardon would wipe out his criminal record, including the sentence he is currently serving.
The timing is curious. Trump has repeatedly stated that he would not pardon Bankman-Fried. In a public statement earlier this year, the president said he saw "no reason" to grant clemency to the former crypto executive. Yet here we are.
Trump's Stance
Trump's opposition seemed clear. He told reporters in January that Bankman-Fried's crimes were "too serious" and that a pardon would send the wrong message. But the president has changed his mind before on other clemency decisions. Whether he'll do so here is the question.
Bankman-Fried's legal team likely knows the odds are long. They're betting on two things: the president's unpredictability, and the hope that a public relations push might soften Trump's view. There's been no word from the White House since the filing was made public.
What a Pardon Would Mean
A full pardon would release Bankman-Fried from prison and restore his civil rights. It wouldn't erase the civil liabilities he faces from the collapse of his crypto exchange, but it would remove the criminal penalty. That's a big deal for a man serving a 25-year sentence.
The Justice Department typically takes months to process pardon applications. Trump could fast-track it if he wanted to, but given his stated position, that seems unlikely. For now, Bankman-Fried's fate rests on a decision that the president has already said he won't make.
Will Trump stick to his word? That's the unresolved question hanging over this filing.
