Former Binance CEO CZ Surprised by Trump Pardon, Claims He Never Met President

Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, co-founder and former CEO of Binance, expressed astonishment over his presidential pardon from Donald Trump. He emphasized that he has neither met nor engaged in any business with Trump or his family.

Key Takeaways:

CZ was taken aback by the presidential pardon, stating he has never met or conducted business with Trump or his family.
He clarified that Binance does not have any financial ties to World Liberty Finance, countering speculation connecting him to Trump-related endeavors.
The pardon ignited political controversy, as Democratic lawmakers accused it of being a "pay-to-play" arrangement.

In an interview with Fox News, CZ mentioned that he had only met Trump's son, Eric, once during the Bitcoin Middle East and North Africa conference in Abu Dhabi. He asserted, “There is no business relationship between me, Binance, and World Liberty Finance,” dispelling rumors suggesting financial connections between the two.

Former Binance CEO CZ Says He Never Met Trump, ‘Surprised’ by Presidential Pardon

Uncertainty Surrounding the Pardon Process

CZ shared that he had no knowledge of when the pardon process was taking place. “I did not know when or if it was going to happen,” he said. He noted that his lawyers submitted the petition in April, but there were no updates until he was informed about it happening.

The pardon, issued in October, generated significant political responses. While many within the cryptocurrency community saw it as a positive development for digital asset advocates, several Democratic lawmakers criticized it as an example of political favoritism.

During a press conference following the pardon, Trump stated he did not know CZ personally but had heard the case was motivated by politics. “He had a lot of support, and they said that what he did is not even a crime,” Trump remarked.

The pardon has since become contentious in political circles, with Representative Maxine Waters claiming it was part of a “pay-to-play” scheme. She argued that the pardon was connected to crypto investments directed towards Trump-affiliated businesses like World Liberty Financial (WLFI).

Multiple Democratic senators, including Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, have called for an investigation, addressing an open letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi inquiring into the pardon procedure.

Legal Dispute Over Defamation Remarks

In related news, a lawyer for Senator Elizabeth Warren has dismissed CZ's threat of a defamation lawsuit, asserting that her statements regarding his criminal conviction were accurate and supported by public records.

The conflict arose from an October 23 tweet in which Warren criticized Trump's pardon of Zhao, labeling it "corruption." Zhao's attorney, Teresa Goody Guillén, requested a retraction, claiming Warren harmed her client’s reputation.

In response, Warren’s lawyer, Ben Stafford, argued that any claims of defamation would lack merit, reiterating that Zhao had pleaded guilty to breaching the Bank Secrecy Act by inadequately enforcing an anti-money laundering program at Binance.

Stafford clarified that Warren’s comments did not accuse Zhao of direct money laundering but stated that he violated anti-money laundering laws, a representation “true in all respects,” according to him.

Warren also asserted that Zhao “financed Trump’s stablecoin and lobbied for a pardon,” referencing media reports that connected Binance to the Trump family's crypto venture, World Liberty Financial.

As this situation unfolds, Binance is reportedly looking into opportunities to re-enter the U.S. market now that CZ has received a pardon from President Trump.