Sam Bankman-Fried's Parents Seek Trump Pardon

Sam Bankman-Fried's parents, Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried, have reportedly been exploring potential avenues to secure a presidential pardon from former President Donald Trump for their son, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for fraud related to the collapse of FTX. According to a person familiar with the matter, the couple has engaged in discussions with lawyers and individuals within Trump's orbit in recent weeks, although it remains unclear whether they have made direct outreach to the White House.

Trump's swift use of the presidential pardon, including the recent commutation of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht's life sentence, has sparked a surge in requests from high-profile white-collar criminals. Jeffrey Grant, a legal adviser for white-collar defendants, noted that he has received around 100 pardons-related inquiries. He said, "We have been hearing from people in prison, from people recently sentenced who haven’t yet reported to the Bureau of Prisons, from people who have just been indicted. They are looking for somebody who knows somebody."

However, Sam Bankman-Fried does not currently enjoy the widespread support that Ulbricht had. He has argued that his 25-year sentence is excessively harsh, particularly since many FTX customers have recovered most of their lost funds. Another former FTX executive, Ryan Salame, who received a seven-year sentence, has also expressed interest in a presidential pardon.

Sam Mangel, a white-collar prison consultant who has previously worked on clemency requests for Trump allies Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro, said he handles multiple cases. He also shared that he has received informal guidance that cases related to sex crimes, true crimes of violence, and illegal immigration cases will not be considered.