Sam Bankman-Fried applies for a pardon from Trump

Sam Bankman-Fried, the co-founder of FTX, has taken a significant step by submitting a formal request for a pardon from former President Donald Trump. This development has been confirmed through the Justice Department’s Pardon Attorney Office website. Currently serving a 25-year sentence for fraud and money laundering convictions handed down in 2024, Bankman-Fried’s pardon application has garnered attention, with Bloomberg News being the first to report on it. Throughout his second term, Trump has issued pardons to numerous individuals, notably including many involved in the January 6 insurrection, as well as those convicted of financial crimes. An NBC News analysis from earlier this year revealed that over half of the pardons granted by Trump were to individuals who engaged in white-collar offenses, such as money laundering, bank fraud, and wire fraud. Interestingly, several of those who received pardons had previously made substantial donations to Trump's political campaigns. Notably, very few applicants have filed official requests with the Justice Department, suggesting that Bankman-Fried's move is part of a larger and complex narrative surrounding presidential pardons.