4 hours ago
8
Former FTX CEO Sam “SBF” Bankman-Fried, sentenced to 25 years successful 2024 for his relation successful misusing lawsuit funds, gave different interrogation from situation earlier his 33rd birthday.
Speaking to right-wing governmental commentator Tucker Carlson connected March 5, Bankman-Fried talked astir situation beingness since his sentencing and his thoughts connected crypto regularisation successful the United States. Though Carlson did not straight inquire the erstwhile FTX CEO whether helium expected to person a pardon from US President Donald Trump, SBF seemed to warm to immoderate Republican ideas during the interview.
Sam Bankman-Fried interview, released connected March 6. Source: Tucker Carlson
According to SBF, helium did not telephone connected immoderate US lawmakers to assistance him successful 2022 amid pending transgression charges, claiming that helium “didn’t privation to bash thing inappropriate.” Though Bankman-Fried was a well-known Democratic donor, including to erstwhile US President Joe Biden’s campaign, helium said helium had apt contributed arsenic overmuch to Republicans.
“I had arsenic a bully relationship, astir apt better, with Republicans successful DC arsenic with Democrats by that constituent successful time, though that wasn’t what the nationalist thought,” said Bankman-Fried, referring to the aftermath of the FTX collapse.
FTX filed for bankruptcy successful November 2022. The exchange’s illness owed to liquidity issues led to US transgression charges against Bankman-Fried and 4 executives. Three — SBF, erstwhile Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison, and erstwhile FTX Digital Markets co-CEO Ryan Salame — received situation time.
“I don’t deliberation I was a criminal,” Bankman-Fried told Carlson, adding helium thought Salame had been charged with “totally bogus crimes,” perchance due to the fact that helium was a Republican. One of the lone different interviews SBF has given since 2024 was to the blimpish quality outlet New York Sun, suggesting efforts to cozy up to Trump and lawmakers successful the majority.
Related: Hollywood is readying a Sam Bankman-Fried movie based connected Going Infinite
Following his sentencing proceeding successful March 2024, Bankman-Fried’s ineligible squad filed to entreaty the conviction. Reports person besides suggested that the erstwhile FTX CEO’s parents were exploring a statesmanlike pardon for their lad from Trump pursuing his November predetermination win.
Life successful situation for the erstwhile billionaire
Bankman-Fried is presently housed astatine the Metropolitan Detention Center successful Brooklyn portion awaiting entreaty — the aforesaid installation holding rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, who faces charges related to intersexual battle and enactment trafficking. Describing his beingness successful situation recently, SBF said helium mostly ate atom and beans and that nary erstwhile FTX worker had visited him.
“Anyone who was adjacent to maine ended up with a weapon to their head, being told that they had 2 options, and 1 of them progressive decades successful prison,” said SBF.
Criminal cases involving FTX person mostly concluded pursuing erstwhile engineering manager Nishad Singh and co-founder Gary Wang being sentenced to clip served. Ellison was sentenced to 2 years successful situation successful September 2024, portion Salame received 7 and a fractional years successful May. Salame’s wife, Michelle Bond, is expected to spell to proceedings successful 2025 for run concern charges.
Magazine: Meet lawyer Max Burwick — ‘The ambulance chaser of crypto’
English (US) ·