FTX founder mulled giving Trump $5B not to run for president, says author

Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried as soon as appeared into paying Donald Trump to not run for United States president, in accordance with Michael Lewis, the creator of a brand new e-book documenting the rise and fall of SBF.

Michael Lewis, creator of “Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon,” spoke concerning the former crypto billionaire and FTX founder in a 60 Minutes interview on Oct. 1.

One of many revelations within the e-book is that SBF appeared into paying Donald Trump to not run for president. “That solely shocks you in the event you don’t know Sam,” mentioned Lewis earlier than including:

“Sam’s pondering that we might pay Donald Trump to not run for president […] like how a lot wouldn’t it take?”

“The quantity that was kicking round was $5 billion,” he added earlier than saying that SBF was not sure if that quantity got here immediately from Donald Trump.

SBF was additionally trying into the legality of it, in accordance with Lewis, who added that “they had been nonetheless having these conversations when FTX blew up.”

It simply didn’t occur as a result of Bankman-Fried didn’t have the $5 billion any longer, he added.

lol what??

SBF was attempting to pay Trump $5 billion to not run once more. pic.twitter.com/ffbmfI3R9F

— Brad Michelson (@BradMichelson) October 2, 2023

Based on Lewis, SBF noticed Trump as attempting to undermine democracy in the US, pondering he “belongs on the checklist of existential dangers.”

Lewis spent greater than 70 days within the Bahamas on a dozen totally different journeys to go to SBF in 2022 and the pair grew to become shut. “I might keep in spare bedrooms, so I had codes to each room together with the penthouse,” he instructed the WSJ.

Talking on the fallout following the collapse of FTX in November 2022, he mentioned:

“It was just like the aftermath of Pompeii. Garments and belongings left behind, frozen in time. Many headed to the airport leaving firm automobiles with the keys inside on the curb.”

Cointelegraph contacted authorized representatives for Sam Bankman-Fried and Donald Trump. Mark Botnik, who handles communications for the SBF case, mentioned there was no remark from his authorized crew.

Associated: How lengthy might Sam Bankman-Fried go to jail for? Crypto attorneys weigh in

Based on the trial schedule calendar launched final week, the high-profile Sam Bankman-Fried trial begins on Oct. three with jury choice. The trial begins on Oct. 4.

The trial will contain seven fraud instances in opposition to SBF, two substantive fees the place the prosecution should persuade the jury that Bankman-Fried dedicated the crime, and 5 different conspiracy fees.

Journal: Deposit threat: What do crypto exchanges actually do together with your cash?