Sam Bankman-Fried Gives a Jailhouse Interview, Seeking a Pardon (msn.com) 48
Sam Bankman-Fried — one of the largest donors to the Democratic Party — "was convicted of fraud, sentenced to 25 years in prison and mostly went silent," reports the Wall Street Journal. "Until recently..."
Now, from behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, Bankman-Fried is orchestrating an extraordinary public-relations blitz that looks very much like a campaign to make the most audacious trade of his career: support for President Trump's agenda in return for a presidential pardon...
There is little downside to Bankman-Fried's long-shot effort to secure a pardon. As the appeal that he filed last year works its way through the courts, Bankman-Fried, 33, is staring down a prison sentence that could extend until his 50s... The crowning touch of his campaign came on Thursday, when Bankman-Fried gave a jailhouse interview to "The Tucker Carlson Show," which was released on social-media channels including X and YouTube. Appearing on video in a brown jumpsuit, he criticized Washington bureaucrats and crypto regulators — and suggested that he went to prison out of political retribution... [Carlson's title for the interview? "Sam Bankman-Fried on Life in Prison With Diddy, and How Democrats Stole His Money and Betrayed Him."]
The interview hadn't been approved by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, according to a person familiar with the matter. Bankman-Fried spoke with Carlson through a link that is typically used by inmates to communicate with their lawyers, the person said. After the interview, Bankman-Fried was placed in solitary confinement, but he was out by Friday afternoon, according to a person familiar with the matter... Bankman-Fried is trying to highlight in media appearances and in any interaction with Trump's team that FTX customers are set to be made whole with interest through the bankruptcy proceedings — at least in dollar terms. Many of those creditors remain furious that they missed out on bitcoin's rally since November 2022.
Bankman-Fried "wants to set the record straight on his political beliefs, which he believes have been misconstrued," according to the article. "While he has given heavily to Democrats, he has also donated to Republican causes, including the contribution of millions to a group supporting Senator Mitch McConnell."
But the New York Times, citing "people with knowledge" of his pardon-seeking efforts, reported that "So far, the push does not appear to have gained traction."
There is little downside to Bankman-Fried's long-shot effort to secure a pardon. As the appeal that he filed last year works its way through the courts, Bankman-Fried, 33, is staring down a prison sentence that could extend until his 50s... The crowning touch of his campaign came on Thursday, when Bankman-Fried gave a jailhouse interview to "The Tucker Carlson Show," which was released on social-media channels including X and YouTube. Appearing on video in a brown jumpsuit, he criticized Washington bureaucrats and crypto regulators — and suggested that he went to prison out of political retribution... [Carlson's title for the interview? "Sam Bankman-Fried on Life in Prison With Diddy, and How Democrats Stole His Money and Betrayed Him."]
The interview hadn't been approved by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, according to a person familiar with the matter. Bankman-Fried spoke with Carlson through a link that is typically used by inmates to communicate with their lawyers, the person said. After the interview, Bankman-Fried was placed in solitary confinement, but he was out by Friday afternoon, according to a person familiar with the matter... Bankman-Fried is trying to highlight in media appearances and in any interaction with Trump's team that FTX customers are set to be made whole with interest through the bankruptcy proceedings — at least in dollar terms. Many of those creditors remain furious that they missed out on bitcoin's rally since November 2022.
Bankman-Fried "wants to set the record straight on his political beliefs, which he believes have been misconstrued," according to the article. "While he has given heavily to Democrats, he has also donated to Republican causes, including the contribution of millions to a group supporting Senator Mitch McConnell."
But the New York Times, citing "people with knowledge" of his pardon-seeking efforts, reported that "So far, the push does not appear to have gained traction."
Pull the other one...it's got bells on it (Score:1)
So even more proof of what sensible people have always known about Corporate Democrats and Corporate Republicans. There's an old saying that sums up Bankman-Fried perfectly: It doesn't matter whether it's saltwater or freshwater, sh^t floats.
Re:All that money given to Dems ... (Score:4)
Re: (Score:2)
Probably won't.
my suspicion would be the head of state would only consider whether SBF can be useful to him and whether pardoning would look good to the supporters of his administration. And SBF probably looks really bad to both sides given the extent of his fraud; I don't think donald would want to touch that.
Although, I guess there's an off chance might also get pardoned solely to upset the administration's political opponents.
Re: (Score:2, Troll)
Just buy some $Trump (Score:3)
Money in pocket. Pardon in hand.
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SBF bribed the wrong Republican!
McConnell hit pieces (Score:2)
Nothing you said is true.
Go shit where you eat and leave my breakfast alone.
McConnell isn't a hill worth dying on so don't do it.
Nobodies making up claims on slashdot. Who would have seen this coming.
Re:McConnell (Score:5, Interesting)
McConnell reportedly received $89M to support the Ukraine war
I am gonna have to ask where this comes from because so far google is less than empty on anything with him and that number, at least for me so if you got a reporters story I would read it.
Also I would clearly put Ed Martin, the man who is threatening investigations on people who speak ill of Musk online reported to him from openly white nationalist accounts on Twitter (allegedly Canadian white nationalists no less) as part of the corrupt system as well. He's not a discretionary prosecutor, he's a toadie and will do as he's told. [dailydot.com]
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Maybe not. If he's willing to testify corroborating enough, he might be able to get a deal based on that. He was a big wheel in the Democrat's campaign, and having him testify about all of their corrupt election practices will make a big impression on juries. If Trump really wants to nail those enemies, he'll be willing to let SBF walk to get it. If SBF keeps his
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I would be pretty surprised to find under his pardon that SBF would go in front of a jury or really anything that would require him to be under oath in front of a judge (Congress doesn't count since it's now A-OK to lie to Congress or just refuse to be subpoena'd, the President will just pardon you so you don't have to! [justice.gov]
So I don't expect in this SBF pardon scenario that we will see any real evidence of any real "corrupt election practices" since in most all the Jan 6 cases and many of the ones happening rig
Re: (Score:2, Troll)
All the criminals know you have to bribe trump for a pardon, see the Chinese bitcoin guy who bought trump coin and he got pardoned. [cnn.com]
Felons pardon other felons, you go to the head felon for a pardon.
He’s would be a perfect candidate (Score:2, Interesting)
That being said, Trump pardoned Rod Blagoevich, and that’s just so random that it makes my head spin. The only way I can understand that one is that Trump perceived a fellow corrupt/conman in trouble and felt an actual flash of sympathy. So, on that score, a Trump pardon for SBF is actually possible.
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Missed opportunity (Score:3, Interesting)
So he gets an interview with Tucker Carlson, and while he did disavow and disparage Democrats, he failed to spend the other 90% of the interview talking about how great it would be to suck Trump's dick. He's not getting a pardon. Not unless he fixes his act and gives more interviews. Seems that's his only play here .. keep granting pro-Trump anti-Democrat interviews and making conservatives podcasters rich until the conspiracy nutters can latch onto his cause.
Re: (Score:1, Troll)
Pardons are 100% for sale. Trump doesn't think Americans will be allowed to vote in two and again four years. Honestly we have solid evidence that 7 million Americans were prevented from voting last election and the
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That's the same metaphor that comes to mind, when I think of Kevin McCarthy flying down to Mar A Lago to make amends after he criticizing Trump for fomenting an attack on the Capitol.
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Not unless he fixes his act and gives more interviews. Seems that's his only play here .. keep granting pro-Trump anti-Democrat interviews and making conservatives podcasters rich until the conspiracy nutters can latch onto his cause.
Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present the felon trump's legal system. Obviously guilty? Please pander to the the lowly trash for a chance at a pardon. It helps to grease the wheels, ladies and gentlemen.
Re: (Score:2)
None of the nutter claims have been validated.
Why do people like this have money ? (Score:2)
Probably doesn't get pardoned (Score:5, Insightful)
Trump will give you a pardon if you get in trouble while kissing his ass, not competing with him. Since Trump is currently running his own crypto scam [coinbase.com], as they say in old westerns "This town ain't big enough for the two of us!"
(I'm still not used to the idea that we're living in a timeline where the president is hawking his own shitcoin and we're somehow collectively fine with that.)
Re:Probably doesn't get pardoned (Score:5, Insightful)
Trump will give you a pardon if you get in trouble while kissing his ass, not competing with him.
A pardon, or military assistance. This is Zelenskyy's problem. Listening to that Oval Office meeting (ambush) between them, it's clear that Trump's butt is still very hurt over (a) Zelenskyy not playing ball to incriminate Biden way back, and his impeachment over it, and (b) Zelenskyy's visit to PA for Democrats during the 2024 campaign -- Trump/Vance mentioned *both* during their tirade against Volodymyr. Trump is very good at holding a grudge and I'm not sure if any amount of smooching will soothe that.
(I'm still not used to the idea that we're living in a timeline where the president is hawking his own shitcoin and we're somehow collectively fine with that.)
I'm pretty sure at least 1/2 the country is with you on that and also not fine with it. Remember, Trump only got (about) 49.8% of the popular vote and beat Harris by only (about) 1.5% -- so certainly not a landslide or mandate, contrary to what Trump and those on the Right keep saying.
Re: (Score:2)
He did win all the swing states & 42 more electoral votes than needed.
This Joe Biden fella won 81 million votes, 4 mil more than Trump.
The great and real leader Barack Obama won 365 & 332 votes, way more then mango mussolini.
Democrat presidents have real mandates, not little teeny-tiny hand size victories that trump barely won.
Re: (Score:2)
Once you answer that question for yourself (secretly, no need to tell anyone here) then you will become used to the idea of this timeline, and your particular role in it.
Introspection is a powerful thing.
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Congress had "grifters, thieves, and unethical pieces of shit" long before Trump and Elon arrived. That's precisely how Trump and Elon captured the US presidency. The worst of the "pieces of shit" is Mitch McConnell: He did the most cheating the voters and ensuring Trump was re-elected.
What's the benefit to Trump? (Score:1)
Re:What's the benefit to Trump? (Score:4, Insightful)
You'd be surprised at how far blatant flattery will get you with a narcissist.
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It might make the pro-fraud libertarians happy. That's why the Silk Road guy got pardoned.
this is all strange (Score:1)
Everyone got duped by Bankman-Fried's big gamble (Score:4, Interesting)
“Over four weeks of trial, two contradictory stories emerged. In one, the former mogul was a brilliant but hapless savant, whose mistakes as CEO allowed for massive fraud to be carried out under his nose. In the other, supported by former members of his inner circle, Bankman-Fried syphoned billions of dollars of customer money, banking on the odds he'd never be caught.”
He fully appreciates the danger of this (Score:2)
What's extra messed up about this is that SBF knows exactly how dangerous Trump is. This is the same guy who was considering paying Trump a $5B bribe to not run for re-election. [reuters.com] So he's cozying up to one of the (at least potential) great tyrants of history for a get-out-of-jail card with full knowledge of the dangers involved. Either that, or he feels certain enough that the full extent of the damage Trump can do to the world is already unavoidable and his actions can't meaningfully worsen it, which is pret
Re:He fully appreciates the danger of this (Score:4, Interesting)
The fact that Trump's followers reflexively hand-wave away the unique dangers he poses with ridiculous false equivalences such as this is part of what makes Trump so dangerous. The worst of Biden's abuses of power match only a tiny fraction of Trump's.
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Wait, what if I wasn't okay with Biden doing it, either?
Most Republicans hate Mitch McConnell (Score:1)
Donating to Mitch McConnell will not score any points with republicans.
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No (Score:2)
Sure, appeal to the criminal in the White House (Score:3)