Tucker Carlson’s jailhouse interview with convicted cryptocurrency fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried has led to the resignation of his crisis manager Mark Botnick.
Botnick, who had represented Bankman-Fried since the dramatic collapse of FTX in November 2022, resigned on Thursday after learning about the interview, which was posted on social media the same day, also coinciding with Bankman-Fried’s 33rd birthday.
“As of today, I no longer represent SBF,” Botnick told Business Insider, clarifying that he had no involvement in coordinating the interview.
Bankman-Fried is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2023 of orchestrating an $11 billion fraud and money-laundering scheme through his cryptocurrency exchange, FTX. Throughout his legal battles, Botnick, a seasoned public relations strategist, worked to manage the fallen entrepreneur’s public image.
However, recent weeks have seen Bankman-Fried take an unpredictable approach, including posting messages on X offering unsolicited advice on the Trump administration’s efforts to fire federal employees. Botnick stated that he had no involvement in these posts and was uncertain about who was behind them, BI reported.
Bankman-Fried’s history of engaging with the media has previously backfired. His past interviews with The Financial Times, Bloomberg News and Vox were presented as evidence in his trial, highlighting how he misled investors and customers.