U.S. Senate Unanimously Resolves Against Pardon for Sam Bankman-Fried

Bipartisan stance against pardons and commutations

On July 15, 2026, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution stating that Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder and former CEO of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, should not be granted a presidential pardon or commutation.

Although the resolution is not legally binding, the Senate clearly emphasized its commitment to the rule of law and the integrity of the U.S. financial system.

Resolution Submitted in Response to Pardon Request

Senate Resolution 772 was adopted by unanimous consent, meaning it was approved without objection from any senator.

The resolution expresses the Senate's position that Bankman-Fried should not receive a presidential pardon or commutation "under any circumstances." However, this resolution does not have the power to restrict the president's constitutional authority to grant pardons.

The resolution was submitted by Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming and Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego from Arizona, who serve as the ranking members of the Senate Banking Committee's Subcommittee on Digital Assets.

Both senators submitted the resolution on June 17, just days after Bankman-Fried formally requested a pardon from the Department of Justice. Lummis stated that he had already been given an opportunity to plead in court, while Gallego expressed that he should remain in prison.

The resolution explains that the 25-year prison sentence reflects the scale of the crimes, the premeditation involved, the lack of remorse, and the serious harm caused to numerous victims.

Renewed Focus on Responsibility for FTX Collapse and Pardon Request

In November 2023, Bankman-Fried was convicted on seven counts related to the collapse of FTX and was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2024. He is expected to be eligible for release around 2044.

He is accused of transferring customer funds from FTX to his trading firm, Alameda Research, and using them for trading, venture investments, political donations, and real estate purchases. U.S. customers suffered losses exceeding $8 billion (approximately 1.3 trillion yen), and prosecutors have characterized it as one of the largest financial fraud cases in U.S. history.

FTX filed for bankruptcy on November 11, 2022, after being unable to meet customer withdrawal requests. Subsequently, on June 8, 2026, Bankman-Fried submitted a request for a pardon after his sentence, which does not seek to overturn his conviction but aims to restore civil rights such as voting rights and the right to serve on a jury, thereby removing barriers to employment and housing.

President Donald Trump stated in a January interview that he has no plans to pardon Bankman-Fried. This unanimous resolution reinforces a tough stance across party lines regarding accountability for the FTX collapse.

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