PASSED: Senate Unanimously Supports Gallego Resolution Disapproving of Any Sam Bankman-Fried Pardon

The resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that Bankman-Fried should under no circumstances receive a presidential pardon WASHINGTON – Last night, the Senate unanimously passed Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) ’s resolution expressing that convicted crypto fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried, the co-founder of FTX, should not receive a presidential pardon, commutation, or any other form of Federal clemency. “It should not be considered controversial to say that someone like Sam Bankman-Fried – a fraudster who was convicted by a unanimous jury – should not be allowed to walk away scot-free. That’s exactly what the Senate affirmed when they passed my resolution,” said Senator Gallego. “Bankman-Fried stole billions from hardworking Americans. He’s a criminal who deserves to stay locked up.” Bankman-Fried, who co-founded FTX in 2019, was convicted by a unanimous jury in 2023 to a 25-year prison sentence for wire fraud, securities fraud, commodities fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and other counts. Federal prosecutors at the time described the collapse of FTX as “one of the biggest financial frauds in American history,” with American customers losing more than $8 billion in savings, investments, and livelihoods. Senator Gallego introduced the resolution, along with Digital Assets Subcommittee Chair Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) , last month, following reports that Bankman-Fried has continued to claim innocence and lobby for clemency.