FTX founder and former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried has donated to both Democratic and Republican candidates. In 2020, Bankman-Fried was one of the largest donors to the campaign of now-President Joe Biden.
Bankman-Fried has said that all of his Republican donations were dark, meaning that the source of the money is not disclosed. According to the political finance tracking website Open Secrets, “dark money” refers to spending meant to influence political outcomes where the source of the money is not disclosed.
Bankman-Fried says he donated dark money to avoid public scrutiny and have reporters “freak the fuck out if you donate to Republicans.” Bankman-Fried also addressed rumors that he helped Ukraine launder funds for the Democratic Party, an accusation that FactCheck.org, a nonpartisan nonprofit for voters, calls false.
