Bankman‑Fried Files for Post‑Sentence Pardon

Sam Bankman‑Fried has filed a petition with the Justice Department seeking a “pardon after completion of sentence,” asking the Office of the Pardon Attorney to consider relief that would take effect when his prison term ends. The filing appears in the office’s public records.

Bankman‑Fried, 34, was convicted in 2023 on multiple fraud and conspiracy counts related to the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX. A federal judge sentenced him to 25 years in prison. The Bureau of Prisons lists him at a low‑security federal correctional institution in Santa Barbara, California. His legal team has filed appeals challenging aspects of the conviction and the sentence.

A “pardon after completion of sentence” requests executive forgiveness that begins after an individual finishes incarceration. The Office of the Pardon Attorney reviews petitions and sends recommendations to the White House. The U.S. Constitution gives the president sole authority to grant pardons.

President Trump has publicly stated he has no plans to grant clemency to Bankman‑Fried. When the renewed petition was raised, a White House spokesperson pointed to the president’s earlier remarks.

Bankman‑Fried has been active on the social platform X, where he has commented on political developments and praised some actions by the president, including the pardon of a former Honduran leader. The Justice Department filing does not include a public legal memorandum explaining the grounds for the petition.

Prosecutors said during the 2023 trial that Bankman‑Fried and associates diverted billions of dollars in customer funds for personal expenses, political donations and risky trading. His conviction followed a high‑profile trial that drew wide attention in the financial and crypto sectors.

Any recommendation from the Office of the Pardon Attorney would be advisory; the decision to grant or deny a pardon rests with the president. A post‑sentence pardon can restore certain civil rights but does not erase a criminal conviction from the record.