Crypto fraudster punished for secret interview, seeks pardon
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Sam Bankman-Fried’s recent interview with Tucker Carlson has resulted in severe consequences, landing him in solitary confinement at the correctional facility where he is currently incarcerated.
The New York Times has revealed that prison officials took action after discovering the unauthorized 45-minute conversation between the convicted crypto fraudster and the conservative media personality. A Bureau of Prisons spokesperson confirmed to the publication that the unauthorized interview had not received proper authorization, highlighting the strict regulations governing inmates’ external communications.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway by Bankman-Fried’s supporters and family members to secure a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. The Times detailed these endeavors, reporting:
Sam Bankman-Fried thrown in solitary confinement after unauthorized interview with Tucker Carlson: report https://t.co/w6rkdKa8jl pic.twitter.com/ksq7my7vnG
— New York Post (@nypost) March 8, 2025
“As part of the clemency effort, Mr. Bankman and Ms. Fried, who are Stanford University law professors and longtime active Democrats, are consulting with Kory Langhofer, an Arizona lawyer who worked for Mr. Trump’s 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns. Politically connected businesspeople and Washington lobbyists have also received outreach from intermediaries who claim to be allies of Mr. Bankman-Fried, three people with knowledge of the situation said. His supporters have also taken steps that appear calculated to seek favor with Mr. Trump in smaller ways. Mr. Bankman, who has maintained a low profile since FTX’s collapse, co-wrote an opinion piece in The Washington Post last month arguing that Mr. Trump’s plans for a sovereign wealth fund could help ‘dramatically increase corporate productivity.'”
During his conversation with Carlson, Bankman-Fried addressed various topics, including his prison experience and shifting political views. He expressed his initial support for Joe Biden in 2020, stating, “I was center-left, and I gave to Biden’s campaign; I was optimistic he would be a center-left president.”
Sam Bankman-Fried is doing 25 years behind bars, and is now sharing a cell block with Diddy. He joins us from prison for an update on his new life.
(0:00) What Has Prison Been Like?
(2:28) Was SBF Ever on Adderall?
(4:42) SBF Meeting Diddy in Prison
(7:01) How Prison Has Changed… pic.twitter.com/mNSNktLibg— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) March 6, 2025
However, his perspective changed after spending time in Washington D.C. “I was really, really shocked by what I saw there… and not in a good direction,” he revealed, adding that “By late 2022, I was giving to Republicans as much as Democrats.”
Without a presidential pardon, Bankman-Fried faces a 25-year prison sentence, with the possibility of parole in 2042 after serving 18 years.
