Binance co-founder CZs lawyer says he did not pay Donald Trump for a pardon.
- CZ was pardoned by Trump in October 2024 after serving four months in prison.
- His lawyer says media and critics are spreading false claims.
- She argues the pardon was justice, not corruption.
Trump’s Pardon Sparks Debate
In October 2024, former U.S. President Donald Trump pardoned Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, the former CEO of Binance. CZ had spent four months in jail after Binance failed to follow Anti-Money Laundering rules. Trump said CZ should not have been jailed, calling it unfair. The decision caused a lot of public and political reaction.
Did CZ Pay for the Pardon?
Some critics said that CZ supported Trump’s crypto efforts and used influence to get pardoned. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren claimed it looked like “corruption.” She said CZ helped boost one of Trump’s companies and asked for a pardon. But CZ’s lawyer, Teresa Goody Guillén, says those claims are false. She explained that media reports have been inaccurate. She noted that people don’t understand how crypto or blockchain work.
Lawyer Pushes Back on Political Accusations
Guillén appeared on the Pomp Podcast and said that Warren made wrong statements. She added that CZ had not been convicted of any serious crime. In her view, politicians like Warren should be held more accountable for what they say. She questioned the legal immunity that U.S. lawmakers have when making public statements.
CZ Was a “Scapegoat,” Lawyer Says
Guillén believes CZ was used as an example by the U.S. government during a time when the crypto industry was under pressure, especially after the FTX collapse. She said that other executives in the traditional banking world did not face jail for similar actions. According to her, CZ’s case had no fraud, no victims, and no criminal past. She called the pardon an act of justice, not favoritism.
Source: cointelegraph.com
