URGENT UPDATE: Elizabeth Holmes, the disgraced founder of Theranos, has officially requested the Trump administration to commute her prison sentence. The U.S. Justice Department’s Office of the Pardon Attorney confirmed the request, which is currently pending review. Holmes, aged 41, is facing almost six years behind bars following her conviction for defrauding investors with fraudulent claims about her company’s blood-testing technology.
Holmes was sentenced after a jury found her guilty in 2022 of fraud and conspiracy, leading to a $452 million restitution order. Her release date is set for December 30, 2031, as stated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The request was filed sometime in 2025, and the status remains under review, according to the Office of the Pardon Attorney’s website. “The details about a specific case’s review cannot be shared,” the website notes, leaving many questions unanswered regarding the potential outcome.
Holmes has previously fought unsuccessfully to delay her incarceration. Her appeal to overturn her conviction was upheld by a three-judge panel, which rejected claims of legal errors during her trial. Additionally, the panel confirmed that the restitution amount was justified, stating that the victims’ actual losses corresponded to the total amount of their investments.
The implications of this request are significant, not only for Holmes but also for the broader conversation about accountability in high-stakes business fraud cases. As the review process unfolds, many will be watching closely to see how the Trump administration responds to her plea.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story. The outcome could reshape Holmes’ future and impact investor confidence in startups across the nation.
