Summary
- The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution opposing any clemency for Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of FTX, who is currently serving a 25-year sentence.
- This bipartisan effort was led by Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Rubén Gallego (D-AZ), co-chairs of the Banking Committee's digital assets subcommittee.
- The resolution is nonbinding and does not limit the president's power to grant pardons.
The U.S. Senate has taken a firm stance against any clemency for Sam Bankman-Fried, unanimously passing a resolution asserting that he should not receive a pardon or sentence reduction. This decision comes as Bankman-Fried, convicted in 2023, is not eligible for release until 2044.
Agreed to by unanimous consent: S. Res. 772, expressing the Senate's view that Samuel Bankman-Fried should not receive executive clemency, and reaffirming the Senate's commitment to the rule of law and…
— Senate Press Gallery (@SenatePress) July 15, 2026
The resolution, designated S. Res. 772, was passed without objection, emphasizing the Senate's commitment to the integrity of the financial system. Although symbolic, it does not constrain the president's constitutional ability to grant clemency.
A Rare Bipartisan Agreement
Senators Lummis and Gallego introduced the resolution on June 17. Lummis, an advocate for cryptocurrency, noted that Bankman-Fried had his chance in court, while Gallego directly urged to keep him incarcerated. A representative from Lummis' office remarked that Bankman-Fried's attempts at securing a pardon have not gone unnoticed by lawmakers.
