Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder and former CEO of the FTX exchange, who is currently serving a 25-year sentence in a Brooklyn, USA prison, stated in a controversial interview from within the prison that he does not consider himself guilty and still believes he was wrongfully convicted.
This explosive interview is his second media appearance since entering prison and his first video interview, conducted on the eve of his 33rd birthday. The interview, conducted by Tucker Carlson, a well-known conservative American analyst, has once again made his financial fraud case one of the hottest topics in the crypto world.
Sam Bankman-Fried’s Controversial Conviction: Is He Innocent?
In the interview, Bankman-Fried emphasized that his conviction on charges of fraud was unfair and that the claims against him were false. He stated: “I do not consider myself guilty. Maybe the U.S. Department of Justice thinks otherwise, but I don’t care.”
In 2023, about a year after the bankruptcy of the FTX exchange, he was found guilty by a New York jury. His charges included: • Wire Fraud
- Conspiracy to Commit Securities and Commodities Fraud
- Large-scale Money Laundering
After these charges were confirmed, the court sentenced him to 25 years in prison.
Presidential Pardon: New Hope for Sam Bankman-Fried’s Family
It seems that Bankman-Fried’s latest interview is part of his family’s efforts to obtain a presidential pardon. This comes amid a recent wave of pardons initiated by the U.S. President.
In the interview, Bankman-Fried compared the current state of the cryptocurrency industry with the past and referenced the famous Silk Road case. He claimed that financial crimes in crypto have decreased compared to ten years ago, and his case has been exaggerated.
Democrats Cut Ties After Campaign Contributions Revealed
Bankman-Fried explained why the Democrats cut ties with him after the FTX collapse: “In 2020, I was on the centrist left and made significant financial contributions to Biden’s campaign. But after my donations to Republicans were revealed, my relationship with Democrats completely ended.”
These remarks suggest that behind-the-scenes political connections might have a significant impact on the FTX case.
Harsh Criticism of the SEC and Gary Gensler
The former CEO of FTX sharply criticized the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and described Gary Gensler, the former head of the SEC, as an ambitious and political figure. He claimed that the SEC has not treated all crypto platforms equally and that excessive scrutiny was applied to FTX.
Could FTX Have Been Worth $100 Billion if It Didn’t Collapse?
In part of the interview, Bankman-Fried claimed that if FTX hadn’t gone bankrupt, its assets would now be worth $100 billion. He emphasized that FTX’s debts at the time of bankruptcy were about $15 billion, and proper management could have prevented the collapse. According to him, the main reason for FTX’s bankruptcy was poor decisions made by the new management after he left the company.
Summary
Sam Bankman-Fried’s case remains one of the most debated cases in the world of cryptocurrency. While he still considers himself innocent, some believe he deserves his 25-year sentence. With his family’s efforts for a presidential pardon and new revelations, this case may experience fresh developments in the future.
source : CointeleGraph
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