Sen. Lummis Rebukes Sam Bankman-Fried, Says CLARITY Act Would Mean Longer Sentence

bitcoinistPublished on 2026-02-27Last updated on 2026-02-27

Abstract

Sam Bankman-Fried, the former FTX CEO sentenced to 25 years in prison, has been seeking a retrial and fueling speculation about a potential presidential pardon. This follows former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao's pardon by Donald Trump. Bankman-Fried recently praised the proposed CLARITY Act, calling it a major achievement for Trump and the crypto industry, and claimed former SEC Chair Gary Gensler helped the DOJ prosecute him. Senator Cynthia Lummis, a key Trump ally on crypto policy, rebuked him, suggesting his support was a self-serving attempt to secure a pardon. She stated the CLARITY Act would have led to a longer sentence for him, as it includes tougher penalties for crypto-related fraud. The bill, currently under negotiation, is part of broader crypto market structure discussions ongoing at the White House, with officials indicating progress towards a potential March 1 deadline.

Sam Bankman-Fried, the co-founder and former CEO of collapsed crypto exchange FTX, has in recent months repeatedly called for a retrial in New York, where he was sentenced to 25 years in prison following the company’s 2022 downfall.

His renewed public statements have coincided with growing online speculation that he could seek a presidential pardon, particularly after former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) was pardoned last year by President Donald Trump.

Sam Bankman-Fried Praises CLARITY Act

The speculation intensified this week after Sam Bankman-Fried posted on X, formerly Twitter, praising the proposed CLARITY Act. In his message, he described the bill as a major milestone for the crypto industry and “a huge achievement” for President Trump.

He added that he had supported similar efforts in the past to remove oversight of digital assets from former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler, claiming that Gensler had assisted the Biden administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) in bringing charges against him.

In the same post, Sam Bankman-Fried referenced a letter from the House Financial Services Committee. The document, signed by Chairman Patrick McHenry, called on the SEC to provide records and communications involving the agency’s Division of Enforcement, the Office of the Chair and the DOJ.

The lawmakers sought information about the timing of charges filed against Sam Bankman-Fried and his arrest, which occurred shortly before he was scheduled to testify before the House Financial Services Committee.

Senator Cynthia Lummis, a prominent supporter of digital assets closely aligned with President Trump’s crypto policy agenda, responded sharply to Bankman-Fried’s remarks. Writing on Thursday, she suggested that his praise for the CLARITY Act was self-serving.

Lummis Dismisses Pardon Talks

“Someone’s looking for a pardon and doesn’t realize the Clarity Act would have you locked up for much longer than 25 years,” the Senator said in her remarks.

Lummis further distanced her proposal from any prior legislative efforts associated with Sam Bankman-Fried, stating, “My legislation couldn’t be more different than the bill you tried to buy from Congress over my objection in 2022. We do not need—nor want—your support.”

Her comments were echoed by some social media users, including one who pointed out that the CLARITY Act includes tougher criminal penalties for fraud, misrepresentation and misuse of customer assets when digital assets are involved.

According to that interpretation, certain crypto-related offenses would be treated as aggravated financial crimes, adding additional years to standard wire fraud sentences. “Please get it passed!!” the user wrote in response to Lummis’ remarks.

The CLARITY Act, also known as the broader crypto market structure bill, remains under negotiation. It is currently on hold as representatives from the banking and crypto sectors prepare for another meeting at the White House scheduled for Friday.

The talks are expected to focus on unresolved issues, including stablecoin rewards programs, decentralized finance (DeFi) provisions and ethics-related measures that have complicated earlier drafts.

Industry participants and administration officials have indicated that progress is being made. Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, described last week’s discussions as “a big step forward.”

In a public message, Witt wrote, “We’re close,” adding that if both sides continue negotiating in good faith, he believes the administration’s March 1 deadline can still be met.

The daily chart shows the total crypto market cap at $2.28 trillion. Source: TOTAL on TradingView.com

Featured image from Fortune, chart from TradingView.com

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