Sam Bankman-Fried Backs Trump’s Pardon as He Seeks FTX Clemency

TLDR

• Sam Bankman-Fried publicly supported Donald Trump’s pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández.
• He described Hernández as one of the kindest and most dedicated people he has met.
• Bankman-Fried is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for fraud related to the collapse of FTX.
• He is actively seeking a presidential pardon from Trump while continuing to appeal his conviction.
• His recent posts on X are shared by a friend but claim to be his own words.

Sam Bankman-Fried praised President Donald Trump’s pardon of Juan Orlando Hernández on Tuesday via a proxy-managed social media account.

The former FTX CEO said Hernández was “one of the kindest and most dedicated people” he had ever met.

Bankman-Fried is currently serving a 25-year sentence for fraud and is actively pursuing a presidential pardon from Trump.

Bankman-Fried Supports Trump’s Decision

Bankman-Fried responded quickly after Trump pardoned the former Honduran president, who was convicted of drug trafficking in 2023.

On X, he wrote, “I’m so glad Juan Orlando is free—few are more deserving than him,” which appeared through a third-party poster.

His X bio now notes that posts are “his words, shared by a friend,” signaling that he remains active online despite incarceration.

The comment came just days after Bankman-Fried said he had previously met Hernández and described him as kind and committed.

Trump reportedly issued the pardon on Tuesday, clearing Hernández of a 45-year sentence tied to drug trafficking charges.

The former Honduran leader’s release has drawn international attention, and Bankman-Fried’s support added another layer to the response.

Push for Presidential Pardon Continues

While Bankman-Fried praises Trump, he is simultaneously seeking clemency for his role in the FTX collapse.

In 2023, a jury found him guilty of fraud and conspiracy for misusing billions in FTX customer funds.

His legal team has since appealed the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

FTX customers lost access to their funds when the crypto exchange filed for bankruptcy in late 2022.

Bankman-Fried continues to argue that FTX was solvent at the time and blames mismanagement by the bankruptcy estates.

Bankman-Fried Claims FTX Was Solvent

Despite his efforts, Bankman-Fried’s history with political donations may hinder his clemency chances with Trump.

He donated $5.2 million to the Biden campaign in 2020, which may complicate any bid for a pardon from Trump.

His parents, legal scholars Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried, have joined in advocating for a pardon.

They have aligned with broader efforts to gain clemency for other convicted crypto executives.

FTX has remained central to many of Bankman-Fried’s arguments on social media regarding solvency and asset control.

Bankman-Fried has used X to promote the claim that FTX still had enough assets when it collapsed.

He continues posting through a friend, stating that the FTX estates are not managing funds properly.

His renewed social media activity has coincided with recent legal developments around his appeal.

The appellate court heard arguments last month, but a decision is not expected until sometime in 2025.