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The Changing Politics of a Stanford Professor and Her Husband Amidst Their Son's High-Profile Trial

The Changing Politics of a Stanford Professor and Her Husband Amidst Their Son's High-Profile Trial
Credit: Martha Ross, The Mercury News

A Stanford Professor's Changing Politics Amidst Her Son's High-Profile Trial

Following Donald Trump's first presidential election victory in 2016, "a relatively obscure" Stanford law professor named Barbara Fried was devastated. However, she vowed to take action against the polarizing new president, and her "midlife political awakening" led her to organize her wealthy Democratic friends and contacts into a "secretive" group that briefly reshaped big-money politics in Silicon Valley.

Fried and her husband, Joseph Bankman, were among those who rallied behind the Democratic cause. They organized efforts to funnel more than $140 million into defeating Trump and other Republicans in 2020.

Five years later, Fried and her fellow Stanford law professor husband have had a decisive change of heart about Trump. And it looks like the plight of their 32-year-old son, disgraced former cryptocurrency billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried, has everything to do with that.

The parents of the FTX co-founder have met with lawyers and others close to Trump seeking clemency for their son, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence for fraud. The beleaguered Fried and Bankman are “exploring” the possibilities of a Trump pardon.

Bankman-Fried's Sentence and the Family's Plea for Pardon

Sam Bankman-Fried has similarly claimed that his 25-year sentence, imposed in March 2024, was the result of a 'false narrative' created by prosecutors. Among other things, he has insisted he was the victim of a market downturn, and his attorneys have said his sentence is 'draconian' because FTX clients got back most of the money they lost.

Like his parents, Bankman-Fried didn't donate to Trump's 2020 campaign but was a major Democratic donor. However, now he and his parents see Trump as a potential ally, even hoping that the president's advisors will consider the disgraced mogul's case a political prosecution.

The Changing Politics of the Stanford Professor and Her Husband

The family's change in heart is linked to the politician's return to office and their own plea for a pardon. Bankman-Fried has claimed that his sentence was unfair, and his parents have echoed those sentiments. They see Trump as a potential ally in their fight against what they consider an unjust verdict.

The professors' son, Sam, has been portrayed by his parents as a victim of circumstance. However, Judge Kaplan disagreed, stating that the young mogul knew he was doing wrong when he allowed FTX customers' funds to be used for investments and donations.

The judge's statement highlighted the stark contrast between the family's perception of their son's actions and the reality of his crimes.

Conclusion

The Stanford professor and her husband have undergone a significant change in politics, going from being vocal critics of Trump to seeing him as a potential ally. This shift is largely driven by their son's trial and their own plea for clemency. As the family navigates this complex situation, it remains to be seen how Trump will respond to their request.

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