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A disgraced cryptocurrency executive named Sam Bankman-Fried is wagering that Trump’swell-documented inclination to forgive allieswho give him excessive praise will also extend to him, even as powerful Republicans encourage the president to turn down hisbid for freedom.

Bankman-Fried, 32, is currently serving a 25-year prison term imposed in March 2024 for leadinga multibillion-dollar fraudplan via his previously closed cryptocurrency exchangeFTX.

As reported by Politico, the imprisoned executive’s legal team is actively seeking a pardon from Trump and his supporters in the cryptocurrency sector — a step that has already faced resistance from Republicans who have based their political careers on promoting cryptocurrency.

The guy is a piece of s–t,” said Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), a long-time cryptocurrency supporter who has advocated for legislation favorable to the industry. “The guy shouldn’t be pardoned. The guy should spend a long time in jail.

Behind bars, Bankman-Fried has launched a strategic charm campaign on X. His account has highlighted the Trump administration’s approach to drug pricing, commended Trump’s economic leadership, and portrayed the president as a champion for cryptocurrency. He also provided a prison interview to Tucker Carlson, where he attributed his conviction to “Biden’s lawfare machine,” comparing it to the federal charges Trump encountered after leaving office.

I hope the president doesn’t get taken in by that,” remarked Sen. Cynthia Lummis, a Republican from Wyoming who is referred to as the Senate’s “crypto queen.” “He caused a lot of harm. He needs to reflect on that for a while.

Rep. Mike Flood from Nebraska, a growing Republican figure on the House Financial Services Committee, showed surprise at the audacity of Bankman-Fried’s effort to secure a pardon.

He wrecked the car, buddy. He was involved in major fraud,” he said. “Wall Street doesn’t need him to fix any issues. He helped us spot a problem by committing a huge amount of fraud — and we rewarded him with a lengthy sentence in a federal prison.

Trump has already shown a readiness to grant pardons to contentious cryptocurrency individuals. He provided clemency to Changpeng Zhao, the former head of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance, who admitted guilt in 2023 for charges connected to money laundering.

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On his second day returning to the presidency, Trump also kept a campaign pledge by releasing Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the dark web marketplace Silk Road.

Nevertheless, granting Bankman-Fried a pardon appears highly unlikely. In January, Trump informed The New York Times that he has no intention of pardoning Bankman-Fried, and there is no sign that his position has changed. However, the intense lobbying effort highlights a larger trend: Trump has granted pardons to many white-collar offenders, some of whom were involved in expensive influence campaigns. The White House has not responded regarding whether a pardon for Bankman-Fried is still under consideration.

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