According to public filings, former crypto billionaire and FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried met with Biden administration officials before he was charged with financial fraud. When asked about the visit, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the meeting included a discussion of “pandemic prevention.”
Senior White House officials met with former billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried to discuss the “crypto industry” and “pandemic prevention”
Disgraced FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), now charged with eight counts of financial fraud and misconduct, met three times with White House Senior Advisor Steve Richetti; SBF also met once with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reed. SBF has made significant donations to Democratic leaders in the United States, including a $5.2 million campaign contribution to current President Joe Biden.
According to reports, several members of the U.S. Democratic Party and certain campaign committees are currently under investigation by federal prosecutors for donations related to SBF. As recently asDecember 13, 2022, at a press briefing on December 13, 2022,a reporter asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jeanpierre if the administration would return the funds.
“I am covered by the Hatch Act here,” Jean-Pierre remarked to the reporter. She further noted that there are restrictions on what can be said to the press. Jean-Pierre added, “Anything involving political contributions has to be referred to the DNC from here.”
To ring in the New Year, the White House held apress briefing on January 3, 2023. There, Jean-Pierre was asked about four meetings between SBF and Biden administration officials. The Biden spokesman explained that the meetings were to gather general knowledge about the crypto industry and pandemic prevention.
“Here is a little overview. As we reviewed earlier and as you know, and I know you follow this very closely, these meetings included Steve Richetti and Bruce Reed and the meeting focused on pandemic prevention as it relates to the Sam Bankman Freed Foundation.” Jean – Pierre said.” And general information about the cryptocurrency industry and crypto exchanges. Look, the administration has been very clear about the need for Congress to take action when we talk about dealing with cryptocurrencies.”
Jeanpierre also talked about Biden’s focus on the crypto industry and the recent Executive Order issued last March.” As you know the President released an Executive Order on this topic just last March. And the President released frameworks to protect consumers last fall and last November,” the spokesperson continued. ‘Secretary Yellen reiterated her call for Congress to take action. So, as you know, the White House regularly engages with a variety of industry and sector stakeholders, including business leaders like nonprofits.”
Jean-Pierre added:
Again, the meeting with Sam Bankman-Fried focused on pandemic prevention-related and cryptocurrencies and crypto exchanges.
The pandemic prevention commentary was ahot topicon social media after the January 3 press briefing published on Tuesday. Jean-Pierre’s remarks were ridiculed, as were her Hatch Act remarks two weeks earlier; one individual whojokedabout Jean-Pierre’s SBF remarks said the White House “should schedule a meeting with Jordan Belfort (the Wolf of Wall Street) next about vaccines. He said, “We should.
What do you think about the White House’s statement regarding senior Biden staff meeting with indicted FTX co-founder SBF? Let us know what you think about this subject in the comments section below.
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