Trump Says He “Doesn’t Know” CZ Despite Pardoning Him, Brushes Off Questions on Binance Ties
President Donald Trump claimed he doesn’t know who Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao is, regardless of granting him a presidential pardon final month.
Key Takeaways:
- Trump stated he “doesn’t know” Binance founder CZ Zhao regardless of pardoning him final month.
- He dismissed questions on Binance’s $2B deal linked to his household’s stablecoin, saying he was “too busy.”
- The president additionally blamed Democrats for the extended authorities shutdown and renewed criticism of Obamacare.
During a 60 Minutes interview on Sunday night, the president was pressed about Zhao’s case and his household’s crypto-linked enterprise dealings however dismissed questions, calling the case a “Biden witch hunt.”
When requested why he pardoned Zhao, who pleaded responsible in 2023 to violating anti-money laundering legal guidelines, Trump replied, “Okay, are you prepared? I don’t know who he’s… I do know he received a four-month sentence or one thing like that and I heard it was a Biden witch hunt.”
Trump Shrugs Off Question on Binance’s $2B Deal
Interviewer Norah O’Donnell adopted up, declaring that Binance had “helped facilitate a $2 billion buy” of the Trump family-backed World Liberty Financial’s stablecoin.
Trump dismissed the query, saying, “I do know nothing about it as a result of I’m too busy.”
Asked about his household’s involvement in crypto, the president stated his sons are “operating a enterprise” and insisted he was not personally concerned.
“I’m glad they’re [in crypto] as a result of it’s in all probability a terrific business. They’re operating a enterprise, they’re not in authorities,” he stated.
The president’s feedback come amid ongoing scrutiny over the hyperlinks between Binance and World Liberty Financial, a Trump household enterprise that has reportedly acquired backing from crypto corporations.
The pardon of Zhao, who was sentenced to 4 months in jail, has drawn widespread criticism from lawmakers who view it as a possible battle of curiosity.
During the identical interview, Trump shifted to home points, together with the continued authorities shutdown, now on monitor to change into the longest in US historical past.
“The Republicans are voting nearly unanimously to finish it, and the Democrats hold voting towards ending it,” he stated. The president didn’t define a plan to reopen the federal government however stated he expects Democrats to “give in.”
Pressed on healthcare, Trump renewed assaults on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), calling it “horrible” and “too costly.”
Warren’s Lawyer Rejects CZ Defamation Threat
As reported, Senator Elizabeth Warren’s lawyer has dismissed CZ’s threat of a defamation lawsuit, insisting her feedback about his felony conviction have been factually right and supported by public data.
The dispute stems from an Oct. 23 publish on X, the place Warren criticized former President Donald Trump’s pardon of Zhao, calling it “corruption.”
Zhao’s legal professional, Teresa Goody Guillén, demanded a retraction, accusing Warren of damaging her consumer’s popularity.
In response, Warren’s legal professional, Ben Stafford, stated any defamation declare can be “with out advantage,” emphasizing that Zhao pleaded responsible to violating the Bank Secrecy Act by failing to keep up an efficient anti-money laundering program at Binance.
Stafford clarified that Warren’s publish didn’t declare Zhao was charged with direct cash laundering, solely that he broke AML legal guidelines — a press release “true in all respects,” he stated.
Warren additionally alleged that Zhao “financed Trump’s stablecoin and lobbied for a pardon,” citing media studies linking Binance to the Trump household’s crypto enterprise, World Liberty Financial.
Meanwhile, Binance is reportedly exploring ways to re-enter the US market following President Donald Trump’s pardon of CZ.
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