Bankman-Fried Seeks Pardon via Prison-Approved Lobbying Effort

Sam Bankman-Fried, serving a 25-year federal sentence for fraud, has used prison-approved intermediaries to publicly back President Trump's Iran strikes and a series of administration policy positions. This effort is widely interpreted as a campaign for a presidential pardon.

Bankman-Fried wrote through a proxy on X that the Iran military operation was necessary to counter nuclear risk. He also praised Trump for appointing Paul Atkins, who he credited with 'saving' the SEC, and claimed gas prices were lower under Trump than Biden. Additionally, he praised Trump's Truth Social platform and criticized Democratic approaches to content moderation.

The campaign has generated bipartisan opposition from lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), a crypto advocate, who said Bankman-Fried 'shouldn't be pardoned' but rather should serve his full sentence. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, the Senate's leading crypto voice, expressed hope that Trump was not 'falling for it'. Rep. Mike Flood of Nebraska also publicly expressed disbelief.

The resistance from lawmakers reflects concern that a Bankman-Fried pardon would damage the sector's political standing. Trump himself has twice rejected the idea of pardoning Bankman-Fried, telling the New York Times in January 2026 and reiterated by a White House spokesperson in February.