SBF in Solitary After Tucker Interview: Trump Pardon Odds Jump

• SBF placed in solitary confinement after an unauthorized Tucker Carlson interview.
• Polymarket data shows nearly doubled odds for SBF pardon after the interview.
• SBFs family consulting Trump-linked lawyer to seek clemency for him.

Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of FTX, has been placed in solitary confinement after giving an unauthorized interview with Tucker Carlson.

The interview, which was done without the approval of the US Bureau of Prisons, was shared on March 7, leading to controversy.

NEW: SBF now in solitary confinement after giving unauthorized Tucker Carlson interview.

Since the illicit interview aired, the odds of an SBF pardon have nearly doubled.

Unauthorized Interview Lands SBF in Isolation

The Bureau confirmed that the interview had not been authorized, resulting in Bankman-Frieds isolation. This move has brought renewed attention to his case and the ongoing discussions about his possible release.

During the interview, Bankman-Fried opened up about his experience in prison and discussed his views on crypto regulation in the United States. He claimed that he did not see himself as a criminal, even though his conviction was for defrauding investors and customers in the collapse of FTX.

Related: Bankman-Fried Seeks Trump Pardon, LayerZero Settles with FTX Estate

While Carlson did not ask directly about a possible pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump, Bankman-Fried‘s comments have led to increased speculation about his chances for clemency. Since the interview aired, data from Polymarket shows that the probability of a pardon has nearly doubled, with a current 4% chance of a pardon within the first 100 days of Trump’s presidency.

SBFs Family Reportedly Seeks Trump Clemency

Bankman-Frieds family, including his parents, law professors Joe Bankman and Barbara Fried, are reportedly consulting with a lawyer linked to Trumps 2016 and 2020 campaigns.

Though they have not reached out to Trump directly, sources indicate that they are working on utilizing his transactional approach to clemency to secure a pardon for their son.

Trumps Past Pardons Fuel Speculation

The efforts to secure a pardon are similar to previous actions by Trump, like his full pardon of Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the Silk Road, in January 2021.

Related: Sam Bankman-Fried Appeals Fraud Conviction, Seeks New Trial

Ulbricht had served 12 years of his sentence for his role in running the infamous darknet marketplace.

Separately, Bankman-Frieds legal team is continuing its appeal process. In September 2024, they filed a 102-page brief challenging his conviction on seven felony counts, claiming that the scrutiny around his case affected the fairness of his trial.