The U.S. Senate unanimously opposes the pardon of Sam Bankman-Fried: a political signal or a legal fiction?
U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis and Ruben Gallego have introduced a joint resolution aimed at opposing a possible presidential pardon for FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried. This move is a direct response to the former billionaire's attempts to reduce his 25-year prison sentence.
The document is purely political in nature and carries no binding legal force—it cannot block a presidential decision. However, the initiative itself demonstrates an extremely tough stance by lawmakers. The resolution's text emphasizes that the imposed sentence "corresponds to the exceptional scale and deliberateness of the crimes, the lack of remorse, and the catastrophic harm to millions of victims," which is a direct reference to principles of justice.
Why is the Senate raising the alarm right now?
As a reminder, Bankman-Fried was found guilty on seven counts of fraud and conspiracy. Judge Lewis Kaplan sentenced him to 25 years in prison with the forfeiture of $11 billion. According to the prosecution, his scheme deprived clients of over $8 billion. Last week, a federal appeals court upheld the sentence, rejecting a request for a case review.
Key point: despite Donald Trump publicly ruling out the possibility of a pardon for Bankman-Fried in January, the convicted individual continues to lobby for his interests. He has openly supported Trump on social media, and his parents have hired lawyers connected to the president's circle. Bankman-Fried's pardon request is currently under review at the U.S. Department of Justice.
Moreover, according to my information, after his release (which under normal circumstances is not expected before 2044), Bankman-Fried plans to launch his own crypto token. This shows that he is not giving up attempts to return to the industry he himself discredited.
My analysis: The resolution by Lummis and Gallego is not just a formality. It is a powerful political signal that ties the hands of the Trump administration. Even if the president wanted to reduce the sentence, he would now have to go against the will of a bipartisan Senate. In the context of the FTX collapse and the harm to millions of investors, any pardon would become a political bombshell. It appears that Bankman-Fried's chances of early release are approaching zero.