Trump Is Rewriting History to Justify His Sketchy Pardon of a Crypto King

The InterceptCenter-LeftEN 5 min read 100% complete by Matt SledgeOctober 25, 2025 at 12:41 AM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

Donald Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, claiming he was persecuted by Joe Biden's Justice Department. However, observers argue that Zhao willingly pleaded guilty under a negotiated deal with former Attorney General Merrick Garland’s Justice Department, which resulted in his company paying $4 billion in fines and him serving only four months in prison. Critics note this pardon appears to benefit Trump’s family firm, as Binance used Trump’s crypto tokens in transactions. The pardon has sparked debate over the Biden administration's approach to corporate crime, with some critics arguing that Zhao received a lenient deal despite serious violations of law.

Key Topics & Entities

Merrick Garland 50% Joe Biden ×370% Changpeng Zhao ×270% Donald Trump ×480% Binance ×480%

Keywords

pardon 90% crypto king 85% changpeng zhao 80% binance 75% cryptocurrency 70% justice department 65% quid pro quo 60% corporate crime 55% persecution claim 50% financial reform 45%

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The Intercept

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Center-Left (-0.50)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

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90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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pardon crypto king changpeng zhao binance cryptocurrency justice department quid pro quo corporate crime persecution claim financial reform

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