- Binance co-founder CZ expressed surprise at receiving a pardon from former President Donald Trump and denied connections with the Trump family.
- CZ stated he was unaware of the pardon’s progress and had no business ties to Trump-associated entities.
- The pardon led to mixed reactions, with some praising it and others alleging political corruption and pay-to-play motives.
- Several Democratic lawmakers, including Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, questioned the pardon in an open letter to the attorney general.
In October, Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao (commonly known as CZ) received a presidential pardon from former President Donald Trump. During a recent interview, CZ said he was somewhat surprised by the pardon and denied any business relationship with the Trump family or their affiliated companies.
CZ informed Fox News that he never met or communicated directly with Trump before or after the pardon was granted. He mentioned meeting Trump‘s son Eric only once at the Bitcoin Middle East and North Africa conference in Abu Dhabi. He specifically denied any connection between himself, Binance, and World Liberty Finance. Regarding the pardon process, CZ said, “I did not know when or if it was going to happen. I believe my lawyers submitted the petition in April, and it took a few months. I didn’t know the progress. There was no indication of how far it went along, etc. Then, it happened one day.”
Following the pardon announcement, Trump stated he does not personally know CZ but was advised that the charges against him were politically motivated, adding that “what he did is not even a crime, it wasn’t a crime. He was persecuted by the Biden administration.”
The pardon sparked controversy. Members of the cryptocurrency community viewed it as a positive step and a reversal of what they saw as unfavorable policies under the Biden administration. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers criticized the pardon, accusing Trump of political corruption. Rep. Maxine Waters claimed the pardon was part of a “pay-to-play” scheme, alleging CZ and Binance invested in projects linked to the Trump family, such as World Liberty Financial.
In response, several Democratic senators, including Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, signed an open letter addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi. They called for scrutiny of the pardon and the circumstances surrounding it, highlighting concerns about possible improprieties. The full letter is available from the US Senate.
For additional context, the interview with CZ can be viewed on Fox News, and Trump‘s press conference remarks are available via YouTube.
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