An article summarized by TechCrunch:
Sam Bankman-Fried, the co-founder of FTX, has formally applied for a presidential pardon from President Trump, according to records from the Justice Department’s Office of the Pardon Attorney. Bankman-Fried is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2024 on fraud and money laundering charges related to the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange.
The pardon request comes as Trump has issued hundreds of pardons during his second term. While many were granted to individuals connected to the January 6th Capitol riot, a significant number have also gone to people convicted of white-collar crimes, including fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering.
Trump has also faced scrutiny for pardoning several individuals who previously donated substantial amounts to his political campaigns. According to Bloomberg, Bankman-Fried's application stands out because it was submitted through the Justice Department’s formal pardon process, whereas many recent recipients of Trump pardons reportedly did not file official applications before receiving clemency.
