Trump Signals Possible Pardon For Convicted Samourai Wallet Co-Founder
United States President Donald Trump stated he would evaluation the case of Keonne Rodriguez, a co-founder of the Samourai Wallet, and signaled he would possibly take into account clemency.
According to reporters current at a White House alternate, Trump stated he would “take a look” and requested that the matter be examined by the Attorney General.
The remark got here after federal prosecutors secured responsible pleas and later despatched Rodriguez to jail.
Statement On A High-Profile Sentencing
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Rodriguez and a co-defendant, William Lonergan Hill, pleaded guilty to costs tied to working an unlicensed money-transmitting enterprise and associated conspiracy counts.
Reports have disclosed that the service was linked to greater than $230 million in prison proceeds. Prosecutors stated these transfers have been related of their factual recitation to narcotics trafficking, darknet markets, cyber intrusions, frauds, sanctioned jurisdictions and different prison exercise.
Sentencing And Legal Outcomes
Based on courtroom filings and public notices, the responsible pleas have been entered in late July 2025 and sentencing occurred on November 19, 2025.
The Department of Justice has additionally pursued forfeiture tied to the quantities it described in courtroom, and fines have been assessed on the time of sentence.
These actions have been carried out by federal prosecutors in Manhattan, who dealt with the investigation and prosecution.
Responding to Trump’s remarks, Rodriguez stated “This President is aware of all about lawfare.”
I’ve at all times stated that essentially the most difficult facet of getting a pardon for me and Bill could be getting the eye of @realDonaldTrump. He may be very busy with many individuals competing for his consideration. Today, due to the journalist at Decrypt, the President is conscious of our… https://t.co/lmYljfFax9
— Keonne Rodriguez (@keonne) December 15, 2025
Trump Pardon: How A Presidential Review Might Move Forward
The course of for clemency sometimes entails the Office of the Pardon Attorney on the Justice Department, which vets petitions and will search enter from prosecutors and judges.
The president, nevertheless, has broad constitutional authority to grant pardons or commutations for federal offenses.
In this case, press accounts say the president requested that the Attorney General study the matter, which may result in a proper evaluation of any clemency petition.
Political And Public Reactions
Reports have diversified in tone, with some shops specializing in the dimensions of the funds prosecutors stated have been moved — $237 million — and others highlighting the weird nature of a president publicly saying he would “look into” an energetic clemency matter shortly after sentencing.
Legal specialists observe that public feedback from a sitting president can velocity consideration to a case, however they don’t assure reduction.
Opinions amongst commentators are blended; some urge cautious evaluation whereas others stress that federal sentences replicate convictions from established courtroom processes.
Featured picture from Bloomberg by way of Getty Images, chart from TradingView
