How did SBF give a video interview from jail? Learn rules here

On March 07, 2025, Tucker Carlson shared a 40-minute video interrogation with Sam Bankman-Fried, oregon SBF, the feline who started FTX and is present serving 25 years successful prison. People online were shocked and confused—how could idiosyncratic successful jailhouse speech to the media similar that? Most folks thought situation rules would halt it, but it turns retired inmates successful the U.S. tin bash interviews if they travel definite rules.

Prisoners successful the U.S. are allowed to talk with reporters oregon bash video interviews, but it’s not a free-for-all. They can’t get paid for it—no cash, nary gifts, nothing. The situation warden has to accidental yes first, and the inmate has to hold successful writing. This keeps everything nether power and makes definite the situation stays safe.

There’s a law, called 28 C.F.R. § 540.63, that explains however it works. Here’s what matters:

• The warden decides if it’s okay, usually wrong a time oregon two.
• If the interrogation mightiness origin occupation oregon messiness with security, it’s a no-go.
• Reporters travel the aforesaid rules arsenic regular visitors, similar sticking to visiting hours.
• Some inmates, similar those locked distant by themselves oregon successful the hospital, tin lone bash 1 interrogation a month, for an hr max.
• The situation tin bounds cameras oregon signaling worldly if it’s excessively overmuch hassle.
• If a face-to-face speech isn’t allowed, inmates tin inactive constitute letters oregon marque telephone calls to the media, unless they’re nether other restrictions.

SBF Has Done This Before

This isn’t the archetypal clip SBF has talked to the property since going to jail. His large fraud lawsuit keeps radical interested, truthful he’s stayed successful the news. The Tucker Carlson interrogation got everyone talking again, but it’s wide the situation had to o.k. it first.

When Can They Say No?

The situation tin crook down an interrogation for a fewer reasons. If the inmate’s excessively sick oregon unstable, it won’t happen. If they’re inactive dealing with tribunal stuff, it mightiness get blocked. And if the warden thinks it’s risky—like it could disturbance up occupation wrong oregon outside—it’s not allowed.

The Attorney General tin adjacent measurement successful with thing called Special Administrative Measures to unopen down each connection if the inmate is simply a danger, similar if they mightiness promote transgression from down bars.

It mightiness look weird that a feline similar Sam Bankman-Fried, locked up for years, tin beryllium down for a long video chat with a reporter. But it’s ineligible arsenic agelong arsenic the captive follows the rules. With celebrated inmates similar him, these interviews volition astir apt support happening, arsenic agelong arsenic everything stays harmless and orderly.

Also Read: “Gary Gensler was a nightmare”: Sam Bankman hits retired astatine SEC from Jail