In a surprise move, Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has asked former President Donald Trump to commute her lengthy prison sentence, according to a notice on the US Department of Justice website. The request was made last year and is currently pending, with the White House yet to respond.
Holmes, 37, was convicted of defrauding investors in her now-defunct blood-testing startup, which was once valued at $9 billion. In November 2022, she was sentenced to serve over 11 years in prison for four counts of fraud. Her case is a cautionary tale of the dangers of false promises and hubris.
Despite having no medical training, Holmes convinced regulators and some of the world's richest people, including Rupert Murdoch, Henry Kissinger, and Larry Ellison, that she had developed a revolutionary blood-testing technology that could perform a range of health tests with just a pinprick of blood. However, it was later revealed that her claims were exaggerated, and the testing devices were not being used to perform most of the analyses.
The downfall of Theranos began in 2015, when Wall Street Journal reporter John Carreyrou exposed the truth about Holmes's technology. The scandal led to a series of retractions, recalls, and lawsuits, ultimately resulting in the company dissolving in 2018. Holmes and her co-executive Sunny Balwani were also charged with defrauding investors and patients.
Trump has granted clemency to over 1,600 people since beginning his second term, but this is a notable exception in his case. It remains to be seen whether Trump will intervene on Holmes's behalf or if she will serve out her full sentence.
Holmes, 37, was convicted of defrauding investors in her now-defunct blood-testing startup, which was once valued at $9 billion. In November 2022, she was sentenced to serve over 11 years in prison for four counts of fraud. Her case is a cautionary tale of the dangers of false promises and hubris.
Despite having no medical training, Holmes convinced regulators and some of the world's richest people, including Rupert Murdoch, Henry Kissinger, and Larry Ellison, that she had developed a revolutionary blood-testing technology that could perform a range of health tests with just a pinprick of blood. However, it was later revealed that her claims were exaggerated, and the testing devices were not being used to perform most of the analyses.
The downfall of Theranos began in 2015, when Wall Street Journal reporter John Carreyrou exposed the truth about Holmes's technology. The scandal led to a series of retractions, recalls, and lawsuits, ultimately resulting in the company dissolving in 2018. Holmes and her co-executive Sunny Balwani were also charged with defrauding investors and patients.
Trump has granted clemency to over 1,600 people since beginning his second term, but this is a notable exception in his case. It remains to be seen whether Trump will intervene on Holmes's behalf or if she will serve out her full sentence.
like what even is this?! Elizabeth Holmes thought she could just scam the world and get away with it? Like, 11 yrs in prison for defrauding people and ruining lives isn't enough for her? And now she's throwing herself at Trump like "oh pleeease don't leave me in there" 
meanwhile, the rest of us are over here trying to process how one person could be so reckless and entitled 
like Rupert Murdoch and Henry Kissinger. What does it say about our society when someone can just talk their way into the upper echelons of power? 
. It's interesting that Trump has been more lenient on others, but this one might just slip through his fingers 
. I'm also wondering what kind of influence her wealthy friends had on the whole situation 
. And honestly, who does she think she is, convincing people to invest in a fake blood-testing tech? It's a cautionary tale for anyone with big ideas and no expertise 
.
She literally got caught flat-out lying about one of the most basic things - blood testing technology 
. And now Trump is thinking of giving her a free pass? 
It's like she thought she was above the law and could con people out of billions 
.
. The fact that she convinced so many people to invest in her fake blood-testing tech is just wild 
. And now she's trying to play the victim again, asking Trump for clemency like it's going to magically make all her problems disappear 
newsflash Elizabeth: you got caught and your company is done 
.
it was like this beautiful purple fruit just hanging off the branches, and I swear it smelled like freshly baked cookies... anyway, back to Elizabeth Holmes, i mean have you ever tried those newfangled blood-testing devices? 
idk, maybe Trump should look into some whistleblower protections or something.
. And now she's asking Donald Trump to commute her sentence? It just seems like another example of how power can be misused 
.
. Commuting her sentence now would only send a bad message about accountability and the importance of following the rules 
.
like how did she convince all those big names that she had a revolutionary blood test technology? that's some level of crazy, tbh I'm not sure if trump should grant her clemency or just let her serve her time, i mean 11 years is a long sentence