Trump’s DOJ is not falling for Sam Bankman-Fried’s MAGA makeover on X

Since Donald Trump’s presidency began, the founder of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, has been on a mission to rebrand himself as a Republican. This shift comes after he was convicted of stealing over $8 billion from customers of his cryptocurrency exchange, leading to a potential 25-year prison sentence. In recent months, Bankman-Fried has been vocal in his support for Trump’s policies, even quoting the former president’s posts on social media. He has also taken aim at Democrats, particularly officials from the Biden administration, alleging they pressured FTX employees to lie in court, undermining his defense. Despite Bankman-Fried's efforts to align himself with Trump, the former president has shown no signs of considering a pardon for the disgraced founder. The White House recently confirmed that Trump has no intention of granting clemency, which contrasts with previous pardons issued to other figures in the crypto space. The Justice Department under Trump has made it clear that they are not swayed by Bankman-Fried's sudden political allegiance. In a motion opposing his request for a new trial, government attorney Sean Buckley criticized Bankman-Fried’s claims of political persecution as “incoherent.” Buckley highlighted that Bankman-Fried was a significant supporter of Biden’s campaign, suggesting that his pivot to the Republican side was a premeditated strategy devised before his conviction. This tactic, according to Buckley, appears to be a desperate attempt to seek leniency while incarcerated.