Samourai Wallet Case: President Trump to Review Pardon for Founder Keonne Rodriguez
President Donald Trump has expressed willingness to take into account pardoning Keonne Rodriguez, the CEO of privacy-focused Bitcoin pockets Samourai. Rodriguez was sentenced to 5 years in federal jail final month for cash laundering fees.
During a day occasion within the Oval Office on Monday, Trump answered a reporter’s query that he’s conscious of the case and is open to exploring a possible pardon.
“I’ve heard about it, I’ll take a look at it,” he advised the reporter. “Why you assume it needs to be pardoned?”
“It feels like, based mostly in your query, Rodriguez. We’ll take a look at that, Pam. Okay,” the President stated to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was additionally current throughout the session.
Samourai Dev Rodriguez Faces 5 Years Prison Charges
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) arrested Keonne Rodriguez and William Hill, the CEO and CTO of Samourai Wallet on April 24. They every face one rely of conspiracy to commit cash laundering and working an unlicensed money-transmitting enterprise. The case was began beneath the Biden administration.
Last month, District Judge Denise Cote of the Southern District of New York (SDNY) handed down Rodriguez’s sentence to 5 years in jail.
Rodriguez was accused of making a Bitcoin mixing service that was allegedly used to launder $237 million in soiled cash. He had voluntarily pleaded responsible in July.
Rodriguez Responds to Trump’s Words
In response to Trump’s consideration on Monday, Rodriguez stated, “This is a giant step ahead.”
“This President is aware of all about lawfare. He is aware of all a few weaponized Biden DOJ looking down their political rivals. He is aware of the ways and methods they play. If he appears at our case carefully it is going to be a case of deja vu, and I believe he would do the precise factor and grant us a pardon,” Rodriguez wrote on X.
Trump’s response comes 4 days earlier than Rodriguez’s jail time period begins.
Besides, the crypto group is buzzing with #pardonsamourai hashtags, looking for the signing of a petition to reach 100K signatures.
“Just as Ross Ulbricht was pardoned, Keonne have to be forgiven, too,” wrote crypto entrepreneur Jesse Tevelow. “We can not enable certainly one of our personal fellow Bitcoiners to spend time in jail for constructing a official product that protects our Bitcoin and strengthens the community.”
President Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, who began Silk Road, a market on the darknet. In October, Trump additionally pardoned Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the previous head of Binance, concluding months of hypothesis over his authorized destiny. These circumstances mark a significant shift in Washington’s method to cryptocurrency regulation.
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