Unauthorized Tucker Carlson Interview Lands Sam Bankman-Fried in Solitary Confinement

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was reportedly placed in solitary confinement on Thursday following a video interview with Tucker Carlson that was not approved by corrections officials.

The 33-year-old crypto billionaire-turned-inmate spoke to Carlson about a wide range of topics for an interview posted on X.

Bankman-Fried and the former Fox News host discussed everything from prescription drug abuse to political contributions. According to The New York Times, prison officials became aware of the interview and put the crypto fraudster in the hole:

The Bureau of Prisons has strict rules about who is allowed to communicate with inmates and which channels they can use. After the interview with Mr. Carlson was posted, Mr. Bankman-Fried was placed in solitary confinement, a person briefed on the situation said.

A representative for the Bureau of Prisons said “this particular interview was not approved.” She declined to comment on whether Mr. Bankman-Fried, who turned 33 on Thursday, was in solitary confinement.

Bankman-Fried told Carlson Thursday that he was making friends behind bars in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.

Regarding rapper and cell block mate Sean “Diddy” Combs, the scammer told Carlson, “He’s been kind to me.”

He also praised prison staffers when he said, “They’re trying to, you know, do what they can, given the constraints. But, you know, no one wants to be in prison.”

Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison last March after his high-profile crypto exchange went belly up. The Justice Department said he stole $3 billion from customers of both FTX and another crypto firm he launched – Alameda Research.

In addition to being sentenced to prison time, the fraudster was ordered to three years of supervised release and must pay $11 billion in restitution.

He told Carlson on Thursday that he did not feel he was in any “physical danger” in prison and was playing chess to pass the time.