Binance Founder’s Legal Team Addresses Pardon Controversy
Teresa Goody Guillén, the personal attorney representing Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, has firmly denied allegations of pay-to-play arrangements surrounding her client’s recent presidential pardon. In a comprehensive interview with Anthony Pompliano, Guillén addressed mounting speculation about potential political favors influencing the pardon decision.
Breaking Down the Allegations
Guillén characterized the corruption claims as “a pile-up of a lot of false statements, misstatements, sometimes assumptions.” She challenged media outlets to verify their sources, noting that many reports cite other media reports without solid evidence. “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.
Regulatory vs. Criminal Charges
The attorney clarified that Zhao faced regulatory charges related to Binance’s failure to implement anti-money laundering compliance programs, not actual money laundering offenses. “This is a regulatory infraction. There’s no money laundering involved,” she emphasized. Guillén argued that CZ never should have been prosecuted for what she characterized as compliance failures rather than criminal misconduct.
Addressing Trump Connection Claims
Guillén specifically disputed claims linking CZ’s pardon to dealings with World Liberty Financial and other Trump-connected entities. She challenged the characterization of World Liberty Financial as “Trump’s company,” stating she hadn’t seen evidence supporting this claim. Regarding the USD-1 stablecoin issued on Binance chain, Guillén used an analogy: “Just because I list something on Craigslist, it doesn’t mean that I therefore have some special relationship with the former CEO of Craigslist.”
Historical Context of Presidential Pardons
Guillén provided context for the pardon process, noting that CZ wasn’t alone in receiving clemency. She pointed out that Arthur Hayes, former BitMEX CEO, received a pardon along with the BitMEX company itself, while Ross Ulbricht, founder of Silk Road, was also pardoned. “We’ve been pardoning people, and companies, juridical people also from the beginning of our country all the way back to England,” she explained.
Senator Warren’s Inaccurate Claims
The attorney specifically addressed Senator Elizabeth Warren’s social media posts alleging CZ had been convicted of crimes he wasn’t convicted of and engaged in pay-to-play to obtain 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, emphasizing the importance of factual accuracy in public statements.
Future Implications for Binance and CZ
Despite the pardon, Guillén confirmed that CZ will not return to Binance, which continues to face restrictions from multiple regulatory bodies including the DOJ, CFTC, FinCEN, and OFAC. The exchange maintains a Treasury Department monitor ensuring U.S. law compliance despite being banned from serving U.S. customers. The attorney’s comments suggest the crypto industry continues to navigate complex regulatory landscapes even as high-profile cases reach resolution..
