Sam Bankman-Fried, the former founder of FTX, recently criticized US President Biden and praised Donald Trump in an interview, hinting at hopes for a presidential pardon. This signifies a sharp shift from his former role as a major donor to the Democratic Party.
Bankman-Fried Turns on Biden, Praises Trump
Sam Bankman-Fried, once a key financial supporter of the Democratic Party, now expresses deep frustration with the Biden administration. In the interview, he stated: 'I became really frustrated and disappointed with what I saw of the Biden administration and the Democratic Party.' His latest rhetoric aligns with Trump's claims of political persecution regarding judicial proceedings against him. SBF also voiced admiration for Elon Musk's approach to reducing government bureaucracy, remarking: 'Some things actually do need more than a 10% cut. They need a 30, 50, 70% cut.'
A Desperate Pardon Bid
Bankman-Fried's 25-year fraud sentence has prompted his family to explore clemency options. Trump has previously pardoned notable crypto figures, such as Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road. SBF's former associate, Ryan Salame, has also sought Trump's support, claiming political persecution.
The Trump Connection
SBF's legal troubles have intriguing links to Trump. He highlighted that Judge Lewis Kaplan, who oversaw his case, also presided over Trump's defamation trial involving journalist E. Jean Carroll. Additionally, Danielle Sassoon, the prosecutor in SBF's case, recently resigned amid tensions with Trump's DOJ. In conclusion, SBF stated: 'When politics get involved — it blows everything out of proportion.'
Sam Bankman-Fried's shift from Democratic support to Trump reflects a calculated move, potentially to secure a pardon. Despite Trump's previous pardons of controversial figures, SBF's case remains uncertain. His reputation as 'crypto's biggest villain' may pose a significant hurdle, even for Trump.
