Sam Bankman-Fried today reiterated his belief that he was not a criminal and highlighted his affinity for Republicans, in an interview with Tucker Carlson.
His parents have been angling for a pardon from President Trump.
In January, Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the operator of Silk Road.
“Go on Tucker Carlson, come out as republican”[sic] was a verbatim part of his list of post-collapse comeback ideas.
The disgraced crypto king didn’t directly say he switched parties, but certainly emphasized his GOP ties.
“In 2020, I was center-left and I gave to Biden’s campaign, I was optimistic he would be a center-left president,” SBF said. “I spent the next few years in D.C. a lot. I was really really shocked by what I saw there… and not in a good direction.”
When asked why Democrats didn’t swoop in to save him, SBF said he had developed a better relationship with Republicans than Democrats by the time FTX began to collapse: “By late 2022 I was giving to Republicans as much as Democrats.”
SBF began looking for ways to salvage the situation just days after the crypto exchange’s collapse back in 2021, per filings by prosecutors at the time.
His 25-year sentence was so lengthy, in part, because of SBF’s lack of repentence.
The crypto industry believes that Trump’s election has given them a new lease on life, and SBF seems to agree.
“I don’t think I’m a criminal,” he told Carlson.
Watch the full interview:
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
