Sam Bankman-Fried Alleges Political Payback After Donating to Republicans

Sam Bankman-Fried, co-founder of the now-defunct crypto exchange FTX, has alleged that his 2022 arrest was politically driven, claiming the Biden administration targeted him after he privately contributed tens of millions of dollars to Republican campaigns. 

Key points:

• Sam Bankman-Fried alleges his 2022 arrest was politically motivated, claiming the Biden administration targeted him after donating tens of millions to Republicans.
• House Republicans have questioned the timing of his arrest and demanded SEC Chair Gary Gensler release communications surrounding the case.
• The SEC’s Office of Inspector General disclosed that Gensler’s government phone was wiped, deleting nearly a year of messages, intensifying scrutiny of the agency’s transparency.

In a post on the social platform GETTR on Wednesday, Bankman-Fried said his political alignment shifted from center-left in 2020 to a more centrist position by 2022, citing what he described as aggressive crypto enforcement under then-U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler and the Department of Justice (DOJ). SBF claims that shortly after making sizable donations to the Republican Party, the Biden administration’s SEC and DOJ began pursuing charges against him.

“They had me arrested weeks before the crypto bill I was working on was set for a vote—and the night before I was set to testify before Congress,” Bankman-Fried wrote. 

Bankman-Fried claimed that House Republicans suggested his arrest was intended to stop him from testifying before Congress. Lawmakers reportedly urged Gensler to release communications related to the timing of the charges and his detention, a move that has fueled further scrutiny of the Biden administration’s handling of the case. 

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Late last month, the SEC’s Office of Inspector General revealed that Gensler’s official phone was subjected to an “enterprise wipe,” deleting all text messages sent and received between October 2022 and September 2023. Reports indicate the device stopped syncing with the agency’s system in July 2023 and was flagged as “inactive” for 62 days, despite remaining operational.

After unsuccessful forensic efforts to retrieve Gensler’s deleted messages, the SEC’s Office of Information Technology examined phone records to determine his most frequent contacts. Investigators compiled a list of 34 agency employees believed to have regularly communicated with the former SEC chair. 

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Gensler did not assist in creating the list, and other commissioners were initially excluded. Although staff described most texts as routine, the Inspector General’s review found several that contained substantive, work-related discussions.

As Bankman-Fried continues to serve his sentence, his latest claims mark a new chapter in his post-conviction narrative, one that intertwines politics, regulation, and personal redemption. Whether his allegations gain traction or fade into the broader debate over crypto’s relationship with Washington remains to be seen, but they’ve already reignited scrutiny of how power and policy collide in the digital finance era.

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MICHAELA

Michaela is a news writer focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain topics. She prioritizes rigorous research and accuracy to uncover interesting angles and ensure engaging reporting. A lifelong book lover, she applies her passion for reading to deeply explore the constantly evolving crypto world.

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Michaela has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Daily is the official publication of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.