Disgraced crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried has reportedly been placed in solitary confinement after his recent interview with Tucker Carlson was released online. According to a report from The New York Times, the interview was not authorized by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, leading to disciplinary action against the former billionaire, who is currently serving a 25-year sentence at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
The Bureau of Prisons enforces strict regulations regarding media access to inmates, and officials confirmed that no approval had been granted for Carlson’s interview. While the exact timing of the conversation remains uncertain, clues suggest it took place on Wednesday, just a day before it was published on platforms like X and Rumble.
It is also unclear what method was used to facilitate the interview. Some speculate that Bankman-Fried may have used a contraband smartphone, though this remains unconfirmed. During his conversation with Carlson, he expressed frustration over his lack of access to technology, though the topic only surfaced when the former Fox News host questioned him about his past stimulant use. Bankman-Fried attributed his erratic behavior in previous interviews to being distracted by digital devices, prompting Carlson to remark on the negative impact of technology.
The timing and nature of the interview have fueled speculation that Bankman-Fried is seeking a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. His parents, Stanford law professors Joe Bankman and Barbara Fried, have reportedly consulted with attorney Kory Langhofer, who previously worked on Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns. While Langhofer has deep ties to Trump’s political circle, reports indicate that no direct contact with the former president has been established—at least not yet.
However, securing clemency may be an uphill battle. The New York Times suggests that the effort has not gained significant momentum, and Bankman-Fried’s previous associations with high-profile Democrats could complicate matters. Still, the former FTX CEO has claimed that, before his company’s collapse, he was quietly making donations to Republican candidates as well.
During his conversation with Carlson, Bankman-Fried dismissed the notion that Democrats had shielded him from prosecution under the Biden administration, pointing out that they were fully aware of his financial contributions to Republicans. Carlson, in turn, framed the discussion around the idea that wealthy donors often expect political favors, though Bankman-Fried refrained from directly endorsing that perspective. He maintained that it would have been “inappropriate” to ask for help.
Trump has previously granted clemency to figures within the crypto space, including Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, who was serving a 40-year sentence for money laundering and other charges. Ulbricht’s pardon was widely seen as a gesture to Trump’s supporters in the cryptocurrency community.
Bankman-Fried, however, made no direct appeal for a pardon during his interview, suggesting instead that any efforts to secure his release would unfold behind the scenes. At just 33 years old, he has served only a fraction of his 25-year sentence. Whether his connections and strategic moves will eventually lead to a reduced sentence remains uncertain, but for now, his unauthorized media appearance has only resulted in further isolation.
By Alejandro Silva Ramírez, Crypto Analyst & Columnist