Investigation Needed Into Whether CZ’s Payments and Trump’s Pardon Constitute a Quid Pro Quo
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, President Trump pardoned Chengpeng Zhao, known as CZ. CZ and Binance, a firm he founded, already pled guilty to violations of anti-money laundering and sanctions laws, and CZ served a brief prison term. CZ has invested in the President’s crypto empire. The criminal settlement meant Binance could no longer offer crypto exchange services in the United States, which now no longer applies.
Bartlett Naylor, financial policy advocate at Public Citizen, issued the following statement in response:
“You pay your money to Trump’s family business; he erases your criminal record. You get to resume bilking Americans with crypto grift. While the Supreme Court generally immunized Trump from liability for official acts, the Constitution specifically prohibits selling favors — bribery. Future investigators should examine whether there is a quid pro quo between CZ’s payments and Trump’s pardon of CZ.”