The former FTX boss was sentenced to 25 years in the slammer for his role in the spectacular collapse of one of crypto’s largest exchanges.
Sam Bankman-Fried Reflects on Life Behind Bars in Tucker Carlson Exclusive
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Tucker Carlson Sits Down with Sam Bankman-Fried for Candid Prison Interview
Donning a brown jacket, a gray t-shirt, and sipping on a beverage from a white flask, Sam Bankman-Fried or “SBF” for short, appeared healthy and in cheerful spirits as he gave independent journalist Tucker Carlson, a view into what life in prison looks like.
The 32-year-old felon, who turns 33 tomorrow, is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York where disgraced hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is also being detained on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
Bankman-Fried discussed a wide variety of topics with Carlson, from crypto and FTX to how surprisingly good prisoners can be at chess and how Combs has been particularly kind to him.
“He’s been kind to people in the unit, he’s been kind to me,” Bankman-Fried replied when asked about Combs.
But when Carlson questioned the former crypto executive about his dealings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Bankman-Fried wasn’t as gracious. He blasted former SEC Chairman Gary Gensler for his regulation by enforcement approach and accused him of being a power-hungry bureaucrat motivated by self-advancement.
“He wanted his agency to get more power,” Bankman-Fried said about Gensler’s harsh attitude towards crypto. “There are lots of stories of him being politically ambitious and feeling like if he could get on CNBC enough…raise his profile, that maybe he would be Treasury Secretary.”
Carlson challenged Bankman-Fried on issues such as his questionable political donations to Democrats, and his membership in the effective altruism community.
“You gave so much to Democrats, I thought they would rescue you in the end,” Carlson said. “Where were all your friends, the Democratic Party? They usually keep their friends from going to jail.”
According to Reuters, Bankman-Fried was accused of “conspiring to make more than 300 illegal political donations.” The publication also reported that he made political contributions in excess of $100 million before the 2022 U.S. midterm elections using customer funds.
“By late 2022 I was giving to Republicans privately as much as Democrats,” Bankman Fried explained. “And that started becoming known right around FTX’s collapse, so that probably played a role.”
Despite the financial carnage Bankman-Fried’s actions wreaked upon crypto markets, it’s hard not to feel even a small amount of pity for him as he reflects on how difficult it will be to serve out his entire 25-year sentence.
Bankman-Fried will be 57 when he is set free unless he manages to get his sentence reduced for things such as good behavior.
“Do you think you could make it,” Carlson asked him, referring to serving his entire prison sentence.
“I’m not sure,” Bankman-Fried responded. “The hardest thing is just not having something meaningful to be doing in here.”
