Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, is seeking clemency from former President Donald Trump. Holmes was convicted on four counts of fraud and conspiracy in January 2022. Her company, Theranos, made false claims about its blood-testing technology to trick investors.
After a week of jury deliberation, they found her guilty on four out of eleven counts. She was also charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. While she was acquitted on some counts, the jury could not reach a verdict on three others.
Holmes was found guilty on four counts, including wire fraud, while the jury deadlocked on three others.
In November 2022, Holmes was sentenced to 11.25 years in prison, along with three years of supervised release. As of January 2026, she has around six years left to serve, with her release date set for December 30, 2031.
In 2025, she made multiple attempts to delay her incarceration but was reported to prison in June after her legal options were exhausted.
Holmes’ appeal process did not go in her favor. In February 2025, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld her fraud convictions. The three-judge panel stated that any legal errors made during her trial were harmless. Additionally, the court confirmed the fraud conviction restitution order that was imposed on her, which reflected the total losses of the investors she deceived. This restitution also applies to her co-defendant, Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, who faced similar charges and outcomes.
Holmes filed her clemency request with the Office of the Pardon Attorney in 2025, but the status is still pending. The details of the review process cannot be shared publicly. Her commutation request is currently under review, adding to the uncertainty surrounding her future.
Her age of 41 and the time she has served may play a role in the clemency decision. With her legal options nearly exhausted, this request represents a last chance for a potential reduction in her sentence.
