Teresa Goody Guillén, personal attorney to Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, has firmly rejected speculation that his recent presidential pardon was secured through political favors or financial contributions.
In a conversation with Anthony Pompliano, Guillén called the circulating narratives “baseless” and built on a foundation of unverified reports, misstatements, and assumptions.
Guillén: CZ Faced Regulatory Charges, Not Criminal Fraud
Guillén clarified that CZ was never accused of money laundering or fraud.
Instead, he faced charges related to Binance’s failure to maintain adequate anti-money-laundering compliance programs a regulatory infraction, not a criminal laundering charge.
“This is a regulatory infraction. There’s no money laundering involved,” she said, arguing CZ should never have been prosecuted in the first place.
Attorney Rejects Links to Trump-Connected Crypto Ventures
The attorney also dismissed claims suggesting CZ’s pardon was influenced by Binance’s alleged connections to Trump-related crypto efforts, such as World Liberty Financial.
Key clarifications include:
- World Liberty Financial is not proven to be “Trump’s company”
- USD-1 stablecoin exists on multiple blockchains, not exclusively Binance’s
- Listing a token on a chain does not imply a business relationship
Guillén used a humorous analogy to illustrate the weak assumptions:
“Just because I list something on Craigslist, it doesn’t mean I have a special relationship with the former CEO of Craigslist.”
Media Reports Are Fueling False Narratives, Attorney Says
Guillén criticized how some media outlets repeat unverified claims:
“You’ll see a media report citing another media report citing a media report… with no solid basis.”
She urged journalists to verify sources instead of relying on vague references like “sources close to someone,” which she described as a weak foundation for serious allegations.
Other Crypto Figures Were Pardoned Too
Guillén highlighted that CZ wasn’t the only crypto figure granted clemency:
- Arthur Hayes, former BitMEX CEO
- BitMEX, as a company
- Ross Ulbricht, founder of Silk Road
She pointed out that pardons historically cover both individuals and corporate entities, and are a long-standing practice.
No Secret Bitcoin Payments to Trump
When questioned about rumors of covert Bitcoin payments to secure favorable treatment, Guillén was clear and direct:
“I know CZ. That would never happen. That’s just not who he is.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren Misrepresented CZ’s Case, Attorney Claims
Guillén also addressed statements made by Senator Elizabeth Warren, who claimed CZ was convicted of crimes he never actually faced and accused him of pay-to-play schemes.
“You can’t just allege someone committed crimes they didn’t commit,” Guillén emphasized.
CZ Will Not Return to Binance
Despite the pardon, CZ will not be returning to run Binance.
The exchange remains under strict oversight from:
- DOJ
- CFTC
- FinCEN
- OFAC
A Treasury Department-appointed monitor continues to oversee Binance’s U.S. compliance obligations, and the exchange is still banned from serving U.S. customers.
