Sam Bankman-Fried’s Interview with Tucker Carlson Backfires

Tucker Carlson’s recent interview with disgraced crypto CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, which was published online on Thursday, appears to have been a deliberate attempt to garner media attention and potentially secure a pardon from President Donald Trump. However, it seems that SBF is now facing consequences for the interview. According to a new report from the New York Times, the former billionaire has been placed in solitary confinement due to the interview not being approved by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Bureau of Prisons’ Rules and Regulations

The Bureau of Prisons has strict guidelines for conducting interviews with inmates, and the agency confirmed to the New York Times that it did not grant permission for the interview with Carlson to take place. The exact date of the interview is unknown, but clues suggest it may have occurred on Wednesday, the day before it was released on social media platforms like Rumble and X. SBF is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

Speculation Surrounding the Interview

It is unclear what equipment was used to facilitate the conversation between SBF and Carlson. One possibility is that SBF used a smuggled smartphone to communicate with Carlson, although this is purely speculative. During the interview, SBF mentioned that he was missing access to high-tech devices, which only came up when Carlson asked if the crypto executive had been using stimulants before entering prison. SBF attributed his erratic appearance in old interviews to being distracted by tech devices, prompting Carlson to comment on the negative effects of technology.

SBF’s Potential Pardon

The New York Times report seems to confirm what many had assumed when Carlson’s interview was released: SBF is seeking a pardon from President Trump. SBF’s parents, Joe Bankman and Barbara Fried, are law professors at Stanford and are reportedly consulting with Kory Langhofer, an Arizona lawyer who previously worked on Trump’s presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020. Although Langhofer has connections in Trump’s circle, there has been no direct contact with the President yet.

Challenges in Securing a Pardon

However, it appears that SBF’s efforts to secure a pardon may be facing obstacles. The New York Times states that the effort "does not appear to have gained traction," possibly due to SBF’s previous associations with high-profile Democrats. SBF had admitted to secretly donating to Republicans before the collapse of FTX, which he believes may have hurt his chances of receiving favorable treatment from Democrats during his prosecution.

SBF’s Comments on Political Donations

During the interview, SBF expressed his belief that Democrats did not "save" him during his prosecution because they were aware of his donations to Republicans. Carlson seemed to imply that it is normal for wealthy donors to expect favors from politicians, but SBF did not take the bait, stating that it would have been "inappropriate" to ask for help.

Trump’s Recent Pardon

President Trump recently pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, who was serving a 40-year sentence for money laundering and other charges. Ulbricht’s pardon was seen as a favor to the crypto community, which views him as a hero. While SBF did not explicitly ask for a pardon during his interview with Carlson, it is unclear what the future may hold. SBF turned 33 on Thursday and has only served a couple of years of his 25-year sentence.