Former Binance CEO CZ Says He By no means Met Trump, ‘Shocked’ by Presidential Pardon

Binance co-founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) stated he was caught off guard by his presidential pardon from Donald Trump, clarifying that he has by no means met or performed enterprise with the US president or his household.

Key Takeaways:

• CZ stated he was stunned by Trump’s pardon, insisting he by no means met or did enterprise with the US president or his household.
• He claimed that Binance and World Liberty Finance haven’t any connection, pushing again in opposition to hypothesis of economic ties to Trump-linked ventures.
• The pardon sparked political backlash, with Democratic lawmakers alleging a “pay-to-play” scheme.

Talking with Fox Information on Friday, CZ stated he had met Trump’s son, Eric, solely as soon as on the Bitcoin Center East and North Africa convention in Abu Dhabi.

“There isn’t a enterprise relationship between me, Binance, and World Liberty Finance,” CZ acknowledged, dismissing hypothesis of economic ties to the Trump-linked crypto platform.

CZ Says He ‘Did Not Know’ When Trump Pardon Would Occur

CZ claimed that he was unaware of the pardon’s progress.

“I didn’t know when or if it was going to occur. I consider my attorneys submitted the petition in April, and it took just a few months. There was no indication of how far it went alongside. Then, it occurred at some point.”

The pardon, granted in October, triggered sturdy political reactions. Whereas many within the crypto neighborhood considered it as a symbolic win for digital asset advocates after years of regulatory hostility, Democratic lawmakers condemned it as an act of political favoritism.

Throughout a post-pardon press convention, Trump stated he didn’t personally know CZ however was advised the case was “politically motivated.”

“He had a variety of assist, they usually stated that what he did will not be even against the law,” Trump stated.

The choice has since grow to be a flashpoint in Washington. Consultant Maxine Waters accused Trump of a “pay-to-play” association, claiming the pardon was tied to crypto-related investments funneled into Trump-affiliated ventures reminiscent of World Liberty Monetary (WLFI).

A number of Democratic senators, together with Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, have known as for an inquiry, sending an open letter to Lawyer Common Pam Bondi urging a assessment of the pardon course of.

Warren’s Lawyer Rejects CZ Defamation Menace

As reported, Senator Elizabeth Warren’s lawyer has dismissed CZ’s risk of a defamation lawsuit, insisting her feedback about his legal conviction have been factually right and supported by public information.

The dispute stems from an Oct. 23 put up on X, the place Warren criticized former President Donald Trump’s pardon of Zhao, calling it “corruption.”

Zhao’s legal professional, Teresa Goody Guillén, demanded a retraction, accusing Warren of damaging her consumer’s popularity.

In response, Warren’s legal professional, Ben Stafford, stated any defamation declare could be “with out benefit,” emphasizing that Zhao pleaded responsible to violating the Financial institution Secrecy Act by failing to keep up an efficient anti-money laundering program at Binance.

Stafford clarified that Warren’s put up didn’t declare Zhao was charged with direct cash laundering, solely that he broke AML legal guidelines – a press release “true in all respects,” he stated.

Warren additionally alleged that Zhao “financed Trump’s stablecoin and lobbied for a pardon,” citing media studies linking Binance to the Trump household’s crypto enterprise, World Liberty Monetary.

In the meantime, Binance is reportedly exploring methods to re-enter the US market following President Donald Trump’s pardon of CZ.

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