Pay-to-play assertions surrounding the Binance founder’s presidential pardon were refuted by Teresa Goody Guillén, Changpeng Zhao’s individual counsel.
In a podcast discussion with Anthony Pompliano, critiques tying the pardon to Binance’s transactions with World Liberty Financial and other Trump-connected organizations were addressed by Guillén.
It was clarified by Guillén that Zhao, aka CZ, was charged with Binance’s inability to implement anti-money laundering compliance programs, rather than money laundering personally.
“This is considered a regulatory violation. There was no illicit financial activity implicated,” was stated by her. The attorney contended CZ ought never to have been subjected to prosecution.
Binance Founder’s Attorney Says Reports Rely on Unverified Sources
The corruption assertions were characterized by Guillén as “a conglomeration of numerous untrue declarations, erroneous particulars, and sometimes conjectures.”
Reporters were dared by her to authenticate their sources, and it was observed that media publications reference other media reports devoid of solid proof.
“You’ll see a media report, citing a media report, citing a media report, and there’s no basis for it other than sources that are close to somebody, which is kind of code for not a strong source,”
Guillén stated.
Claims were contested by the attorney that World Liberty Financial is deemed “Trump’s company,” stating she has not encountered evidence substantiating this depiction.
Assertions were discussed by Guillén regarding USD-1, the stablecoin disseminated by World Liberty Financial on the Binance chain.
“Just because I list something on Craigslist, it doesn’t mean that I therefore have some special relationship with the former CEO of Craigslist,”
she said.
It was clarified by her that USD-1 is present on multiple chains, and it is also maintained by other exchanges.
Additional Crypto Executives Granted Pardons
It was highlighted by Guillén that Arthur Hayes, former BitMEX CEO, was also granted a pardon along with the BitMEX company itself. Ross Ulbricht, founder of Silk Road, was likewise absolved.
“We’ve been pardoning people for, and companies, juridical people also from the beginning of our country all the way back to England,”
she said.
It was observed by the attorney that pardons have historically encompassed both criminal and civil offenses for persons and organizations.
When questioned about secret Bitcoin payments to Trump, it was declared by Guillén: “I am acquainted with CZ. I simply know that that is something that would never be done. That’s simply not his nature.”
Elizabeth Warren Accused of Making Inaccurate Claims About CZ
It was disseminated on social media by Senator Elizabeth Warren that CZ had been found guilty of offenses he was not legally convicted of. Warren additionally claimed CZ was involved in pay-to-play activities to secure his pardon.
“You can’t just go and say things about people and allege that they violated various crimes or committed various crimes that they haven’t committed,”
Guillén stated.
It is certain that CZ will not rejoin Binance, which is still faced with limitations from the DOJ, CFTC, FinCEN, and OFAC. The exchange is monitored by the Treasury Department to verify U.S. law adherence, even though it is prohibited from servicing U.S. customers.
