Disgraced crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried has expressed his desire for a presidential pardon from Donald Trump while speaking from prison. The 34-year-old, currently serving a 25-year sentence for defrauding customers and investors of billions through his FTX exchange, stated in a phone interview with Fox Business that he would 'absolutely' welcome such a pardon.
When asked if he or his parents had contacted Trump, Bankman-Fried replied, 'I haven't myself,' adding that he could not speak for his family. FTX collapsed into bankruptcy in November 2022, just months after appearing successful, backed by a Super Bowl ad and celebrity endorsements.
Appeal Challenges
In March, federal appeals court judges in Manhattan reacted skeptically to arguments from Bankman-Fried's lawyer, Alexandra Shapiro, that his fraud conviction was unfair. Shapiro told a three-judge panel of the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals that the trial judge unfairly limited evidence, particularly regarding legal advice Bankman-Fried had received.
'Mr. Bankman-Fried's trial was fundamentally unfair because the jury only got to hear one side of the story,' Shapiro argued. However, Circuit Judge Barrington D. Parker noted that the trial record contained 'very substantial evidence' supporting the conviction. He questioned whether allowing testimony about attorneys' roles would have led to acquittals.
Prosecution's Stance
Government attorney Nathan Rehn countered that the trial was fair and evidence overwhelming. He highlighted that three of the four individuals aware of Bankman-Fried's illegal use of customer deposits for investments and political donations testified against him.
