SBF interviewed in prison! Claiming to switch support to the Republican Party or hoping for Trump's pardon, experts say: chances are slim

Former FTX CEO SBF gave an interview to The New York Sun on 2/20 in prison, publicly discussing his political shift for the first time. SBF, known for his financial support for the Democratic Party in the past, now expresses disappointment in the party and aligns with Republican policies. These remarks come as SBF's parents actively lobby the Trump administration, raising questions whether this is part of his bail-in strategy. However, experts believe SBF has little chance of receiving a presidential pardon.

SBF said that supporting the Democratic Party in the beginning was to prevent a 'left turn'.

SBF mentioned in an interview that he had supported the Democratic Party in the 2020 U.S. presidential election by donating a large amount of political contributions. However, he revealed during the interview that his motive at the time was not simply to support the Democratic Party, but to prevent the party from becoming the 'Sanders faction,' referring to Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and his socialist policies.

The picture shows Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders

SBF admitted that he began to shift towards the Republican Party after 2022: "I considered myself center-left at that time, but now I don't think so at all." He further criticized the (Joe Biden) administration, saying that its governance was extremely destructive, making cooperation with him very difficult, while the policies of the Republican Party are "much more rational." This has led him to start feeling frustrated and disappointed with the Democratic Party.

In the past, he donated 40 million US dollars like crazy, and now SBF's parents are running around seeking amnesty.

SBF once donated about $40 million to various politicians and political action committees (PACs) in the 2022 US election, hoping to influence the US government's regulatory policies on cryptocurrency. However, his FTX exchange collapsed in November 2022 and he was sentenced to 25 years in prison in March 2024.

Currently, SBF's parents Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried are actively lobbying the Trump administration, hoping to seek a presidential pardon for SBF. However, the outside world generally does not hold much hope for this effort, believing that the probability of SBF being pardoned is extremely low.

(Trump's mercy! FTX founder SBF's parents seek Trump's pardon, hoping to shorten the 25-year sentence)

Judge criticizes SBF for sophistry and shifting blame, emphasizing just punishment and nothing wrong with it.

US judge Lewis A. Kaplan sentenced SBF to 25 years in prison on March 28 last year, pointing directly to his serious crimes and the need for appropriate punishment.

Kaplan described SBF as being sophistical and evasive, stating, "I have been a judge for nearly 30 years and have never seen anyone like him." This harsh comment indicates that the court has no tolerance for SBF, further reducing the likelihood of him being pardoned.

SBF does not have the advantage of amnesty and cannot be compared to the founder of the Silk Road.

However, some experts also believe that it is almost impossible for SBF to obtain a pardon from Trump. Experts point out that during the 2024 election, Trump publicly promised to pardon Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, but SBF did not receive a similar political commitment from Trump, making his chances of pardon much lower than Ulbricht's.

In addition, the sentencing of the Ulbricht case is much harsher than that of SBF, which is also a key difference between the two situations. Even if Trump is willing to pardon certain individuals, SBF may not necessarily be a priority, considering that SBF may still face a long sentence.

(Does Ross Ulbricht still have 430 bitcoins? Will he be free from financial worries after being pardoned by Trump?)

This article interviews SBF in prison! Claiming to switch support to the Republican Party or hope for Trump's pardon, experts say: slim chances. Originally appeared on ChainNews ABMedia.