FTX Fallout Turns Political as Salame and Sam Bankman-Fried Accuse DOJ of Bias

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The collapse of FTX has once again moved beyond financial misconduct and into the realm of politics, as former executives Ryan Salame and Sam Bankman-Fried revive accusations of bias within the U.S. Department of Justice. Their recent statements have reignited debate over whether prosecutors under the Biden administration selectively pursued individuals rather than applying the law consistently across cases tied to the failed crypto exchange.

Ryan Salame’s Accusations 

Salame alleged that federal prosecutors focused on punishing specific individuals instead of objectively investigating crimes. He claimed he was singled out for Republican campaign finance violations, while similar political donations linked to Democratic causes associated with Sam Bankman-Fried were allegedly ignored.

He further added that prosecutors dismissed evidence favorable to his defense and discouraged potential witnesses from testifying. According to his account, mounting pressure ultimately forced him to plead guilty to charges involving unlawful political contributions and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business.

One of his most serious claims involved alleged threats by a former assistant U.S. attorney, who Salame said raised the prospect of investigating his wife while she was pregnant. He stated that concern for his family left him with little choice but to accept a plea deal.

Sam Bankman-Fried Reinforces the Narrative

Sam Bankman-Fried echoed Salame’s claims by reposting his statement, reinforcing the argument that the DOJ had already decided who was guilty before trials even began. SBF has consistently argued that he and others were targeted despite not being directly responsible for the core fraud behind FTX’s collapse.

His legal team has long maintained that Bankman-Fried was presumed guilty from the outset, citing prosecutorial conduct, intense media coverage, and judicial bias. They argue that these factors prevented a fair trial and limited the consideration of exculpatory evidence.

Clemency Hopes Under a New Political Climate

Salame’s remarks come as he seeks clemency from President Donald Trump, who has publicly criticized what he describes as the “weaponization” of federal agencies. Salame praised Trump’s executive order aimed at reviewing past prosecutions and expressed hope for relief similar to clemency granted to other high-profile crypto figures, including Changpeng Zhao and Arthur Hayes.

While Trump has not pardoned anyone directly linked to the FTX scandal, Salame’s supporters believe his guilty plea and status as a Republican donor could strengthen his case.

Market Response and Industry Unease

Amid the renewed debate, FTX’s native token, FTT, rose more than 3% to trade near $0.48. However, the modest price move did little to ease broader concerns. Within the crypto community, reactions have been emotional and polarized, with many warning that selective enforcement could set a dangerous precedent for crypto executives.

As the legal battle continues, the FTX case increasingly reflects deeper questions around political influence, prosecutorial discretion, and trust in U.S. institutions, issues that now loom as large as the financial collapse itself.