"Donald Trump has said that he doesn't know who Changpeng Zhao is despite pardoning the billionaire founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance in October. The US president was asked in a 60 Minutes interview that aired on Sunday why he pardoned Zhao, who is also known as CZ, for enabling money laundering despite him causing significant harm to national security according to federal prosecutors. OK, are you ready? I don't know who he is, Trump told Norah O'Donnell, the host of CBS News' 60 Minutes."
"Trump added that he did not remember meeting Zhao, had no idea who he is other than being told that the multibillionaire crypto boss was a victim of a witch-hunt by former president Joe Biden. In 2023, Zhao pleaded guilty to charges that he broke rules designed to stop money laundering after Binance allegedly failed to report suspicious transactions with organizations including Hamas and al-Qaida."
Donald Trump said he did not know who Changpeng Zhao is despite pardoning him in October. Trump told Norah O'Donnell he did not remember meeting Zhao and said he had been told Zhao was a victim of a witch-hunt by Joe Biden. Zhao pleaded guilty in 2023 to breaking anti–money‑laundering rules after Binance allegedly failed to report suspicious transactions involving groups including Hamas and al‑Qaida. Zhao apologized, paid a $50 million fine, served nearly four months in prison and was later pardoned. The White House said prosecutors targeted Zhao as part of Biden's war on cryptocurrency. Zhao retained his Binance stake.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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