Sam Bankman-Fried, co-founder of the bankrupt FTX exchange, is reportedly seeking a pardon from President Donald Trump. In an effort to build support for his pardon, Bankman-Fried has been portraying himself as a Republican supporter, despite his previous affiliation with the Democratic Party. He has gathered a group of supporters and consultants, including Kory Langhofer, a lawyer who worked on Trump's campaigns. The group is attempting to make the case that FTX did not harm its clients and is capable of repaying their claims. Without a pardon, Bankman-Fried faces a 25-year prison sentence for fraud. However, the idea of a pardon has been met with criticism from the crypto community and Trump supporters. The prediction platform Polymarket puts the probability of a pardon at only 5%. The betting market for potential pardons during the first 100 days of Trump's second term has not reacted to the rumors. It is unclear when a potential pardon might occur, as Trump has other pressing issues to address. Some believe that Bankman-Fried may be walking free by the end of the year.



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