CZ Expresses Surprise at Pardon, Denies Trump Family Connection

In a recent interview, Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao, commonly referred to as CZ, shared his astonishment at receiving a pardon from President Donald Trump. He also firmly denied any business ties to the Trump family.

Key Takeaways

CZ expressed surprise over his pardon from President Trump and denied any relationship with the Trump family.
He stated he had not met Trump and only briefly encountered Eric Trump.
The pardon received divided reactions within the crypto community and from Democratic lawmakers, with allegations of corruption raised against Trump.

CZ Expresses Surprise at Pardon, Denies Trump Family Connection

During his conversation with Fox News, CZ stated that he had not met or spoken to Trump either before or after being granted a presidential pardon in October. His only interaction with the Trump family was a brief encounter with Trump’s son, Eric, at the Bitcoin Middle East and North Africa conference in Abu Dhabi.

“There is no business relationship between me, Binance, and World Liberty Finance,” CZ asserted. He claimed he was unaware of the pardon process and its status.

Changpeng Zhao, US Government, United States, Donald Trump Binance co-founder CZ responds to allegations that his pardon was financially motivated. Source: Fox News

The announcement of the pardon elicited mixed reactions. While some in the crypto community viewed it as a positive development for the industry, suggesting a shift away from the Biden administration’s anti-crypto stance, many Democratic lawmakers criticized the move, alleging political corruption.

Controversy Surrounding CZ’s Pardon

Following the pardon, Trump mentioned in a press conference that he had no personal familiarity with CZ but was informed that the case against him had political motivations.

“He had a lot of support, and they told me that what he did isn’t even a crime; he was persecuted by the Biden administration,” Trump commented.

Democratic Representative Maxine Waters accused Trump of a “pay-to-play” arrangement, suggesting CZ’s pardon was tied to crypto investments in projects associated with the Trump family, including World Liberty Financial (WLFI).

Changpeng Zhao, US Government, United States, Donald Trump A letter from Democratic lawmakers questioning the legitimacy of the pardon. Source: US Senate

These allegations led to a group of Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts and Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont, drafting an open letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, demanding scrutiny of Trump’s decision regarding the pardon.

Related: How Changpeng Zhao regained power between prison and pardon