The CZ pardon continues to stir debate in Washington and across the crypto world. Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao says he didn’t expect the pardon and firmly denies having any political or business ties to the Trump family. His comments come as lawmakers continue to scrutinize the decision and raise questions about its timing.
CZ Pardon: Zhao Says He Had No Contact With Trump
CZ says he never met Donald Trump at any point — not before the pardon, and not after. The only person from the Trump family he ever encountered, he explained, was Eric Trump, and even that meeting lasted only a few minutes at a conference in Abu Dhabi.
Zhao also rejected claims accusing him or Binance of having connections to World Liberty Finance.
“There is no business relationship between me, Binance, and World Liberty Finance,” he said.
According to Zhao, his legal team submitted the pardon request months earlier, but he received no updates on its progress.
“I didn’t know when it would happen, or even if it would happen,” he added.
CZ Pardon Fuels Reactions Across Politics and Crypto
The crypto community largely welcomed the CZ pardon, interpreting it as a shift in Washington’s attitude toward digital assets. But in Congress, the reaction looked very different. Several Democratic lawmakers criticized the decision and accused Trump of rewarding allies.
Trump defended his move, saying he had been advised that the charges against CZ were politically motivated.
“People told me he didn’t commit a crime,” Trump said during a press briefing.
Lawmakers Press for Answers After the CZ Pardon
Representative Maxine Waters went further, suggesting the pardon was part of a “pay-to-play” arrangement connected to crypto investments linked to Trump-associated ventures. Zhao denied all such claims.
The controversy escalated when Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders sent an open letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging her to review the circumstances surrounding the CZ pardon and Trump’s involvement.
For now, CZ maintains that the legal process followed its normal path — and insists politics played no role. The debate, however, is far from over, and Washington shows no signs of letting the story fade.
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