Senate Unanimously Blocks Potential Pardon for Sam Bankman Fried

The U.S. Senate passed a resolution this week stating that Sam Bankman Fried should not receive a pardon or sentence commutation. The vote was unanimous, showing that lawmakers across the aisle agree the former FTX founder should remain behind bars for his role in the exchange's collapse. While this resolution is nonbinding and does not legally restrict the president, it signals strong political opposition to any pardon request.

Senators Cynthia Lummis and Ruben Gallego introduced the measure shortly after Bankman Fried filed a formal pardon application with the Justice Department. The resolution highlights the massive scale of the fraud at FTX, where billions of dollars in customer funds were diverted to Alameda Research. Bankman Fried is currently serving a 25 year prison sentence for his crimes.

Bankman Fried had requested a pardon to restore his civil rights after completing his sentence. However, the Senate resolution emphasizes his lack of remorse and the significant damage he caused to millions of victims. With both parties united on this stance, the prospect of him leaving prison before 2044 appears increasingly unlikely despite his efforts to seek relief.