- The Senate unanimously adopted a resolution opposing any presidential pardon for Sam Bankman-Fried.
- The bipartisan measure is nonbinding and does not limit the president’s constitutional clemency authority.
- Bankman-Fried’s clemency request remains pending despite broad Senate opposition.
The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution opposing any presidential pardon or commutation for former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. According to journalist Eleanor Terrett, senators adopted the measure by unanimous consent after Senators Ruben Gallego and Cynthia Lummis introduced the resolution. The action followed Bankman-Fried’s request for executive clemency submitted in June.
Resolution Records Senate Position
The approved measure, S. Res. 772, states that Samuel Bankman-Fried should not receive executive clemency under any circumstances. It also reaffirms the Senate’s commitment to the rule of law and the integrity of the U.S. financial system.
According to Terrett, the resolution does not carry legal force. Instead, it places the Senate on record opposing a pardon while leaving presidential authority unchanged.
Unlike legislation, a simple Senate resolution does not require House approval or the president’s signature. Therefore, it cannot prevent a future president from granting clemency.
Bipartisan Support Backs the Measure
Senator Ruben Gallego introduced the resolution on June 17, while Senator Cynthia Lummis joined as a cosponsor. Later, Senator Bernie Moreno also added his support to the bipartisan measure.
The Senate approved the resolution through unanimous consent, meaning no senator objected to its passage. According to Senate procedures, that process allowed the chamber to adopt the resolution without a recorded vote.
Bankman-Fried sought executive clemency from President Donald Trump in June. His request remains listed as pending in Department of Justice records.
Conviction Remains at Center of Debate
Bankman-Fried received a 25-year federal prison sentence in March 2024. A jury previously convicted him on fraud and conspiracy charges tied to FTX’s 2022 collapse.
Meanwhile, prediction market activity reflects limited expectations for executive action. According to the provided information, Polymarket traders assign less than a 1% chance that Trump will pardon Bankman-Fried before July 31.
The prediction market has generated more than $734,000 in trading volume. However, according to Terrett, the Senate resolution remains a political statement rather than a legally binding restriction on presidential clemency.
