Written by: Fortune

Compiled by: Felix, PANews

Convicted cryptocurrency fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) was once a major donor to the Democratic Party, but his recent public statements have taken on a distinct "MAGA" (Make America Great Again) tone. In a recent manifesto published on the X platform, he wrote: "Judge Lewis Kaplan, appointed by Clinton, showed no disguise of his political bias when sentencing me. I admire President Donald Trump for having the courage to stand up against this 'partisan biased, out-of-control radical'!"

This is just one of dozens of tweets SBF has posted in recent weeks, filled with attacks on the "Deep State" and other villainous figures from the MAGA camp. Despite being one of the most notorious financial criminals of this century currently serving a 25-year sentence in federal prison, he remains active.

Though SBF hasn't made it explicitly clear, the purpose of his chaotic social media actions is evident: to persuade President Donald Trump to rescue him from prison. Given that Trump has pardoned several high-profile individuals convicted of financial crimes, including SBF's former rival Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), this strategy seems logical.

However, for SBF, his plea for forgiveness from Trump appears futile. In response to recent social media support activities, a White House spokesperson reiterated to Fortune that Trump has no intention of pardoning SBF.

In an email, the spokesperson referred to Trump's comments from January of this year. At that time, the president made it clear that he did not plan to pardon SBF or several other high-profile prisoners, including former New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez and ousted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. The spokesperson wrote: "The president is the ultimate decision-maker on all pardon matters."

SBF's lawyer has not responded to the matter.

Failed Attempt

SBF has long been a supporter of progressive causes, with his parents being law professors at Stanford University and having considerable influence within the Democratic Party. However, when SBF's fraudulent cryptocurrency empire collapsed in November 2022, the founder began plotting a pivot to the right. In a private document disclosed during his trial, SBF wrote that he planned to appear on the conservative television host Tucker Carlson's show and "show up as a Republican."

On the surface, this strategy seems reasonable, especially in the current political climate. Trump is set to take office in January 2025 and has promised to roll back the Biden administration's crackdown on cryptocurrency. Under Trump's leadership, regulators have dropped key lawsuits against blockchain companies, and the Department of Justice has changed its approach to cryptocurrency enforcement.

However, insiders in Washington say that SBF's status as a top donor to Biden, along with his ongoing notoriety in the crypto industry, makes his pardon petition unlikely. Even his unauthorized appearance on Tucker Carlson's show last year (which allegedly landed him in solitary confinement) did not turn the tide.

Despite the slim chances, SBF has not given up; he is also appealing in federal court to overturn his conviction. His X account is filled with various posts promoting his newly adopted conservative identity, which critics have labeled as "puppet accounts." (In his profile, SBF clarifies that he communicates content to agents for posting through phone and email approved by the Bureau of Prisons.)

In a recent post, he wrote: "Democrats love to censor 'misinformation' on social media," and then praised Trump's campaign platform. "Truth Social and GETTR always prioritize free speech."

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