Changpeng “CZ” Zhao received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump after serving 4 months for money laundering violations within the United States. The Politico report said CZ’s pardon followed months of targeted Binance lobbying in Washington for “exoneration of the chief branch.” Efforts focused on offices that oversee clemency and financial crime policies.
The Politico report puts public relations and payments ahead of pardons. The sequence details who Binance hired, when these contracts began, and the way the work targeted the White House and Treasury Department. CZ's pardon appears at the tip of this timeline.
The data set shows names, numbers and agencies. The scope of Binance lobbying included “exoneration of the chief branch,” which incorporates granting clemency. Therefore, the Politico report links the CZ pardon to an outlined Washington strategy somewhat than a general push for compliance.
Checkmate Government Relations: Binance Lobbying on “Executive Relief”
In late September, Binance hired Ches McDowell and Checkmate Government Relations, an organization linked to Donald Trump Jr. According to the Politico report, the contract was aimed toward “executive relief” on the White House and the Treasury Department. The fee was $450,000 for one month of Binance lobbying.
The Politico report adds business context. It says Checkmate Government Relations brought in $7.1 million within the last three months. This illustrates the extent and shows that the Binance lobby used a fast-growing company to push for CZ's pardon.
The filing disclosed specific agencies and a transparent goal. The Binance lobby language stated the relief sought and the targets to be contacted. The schedule corresponds to the brand new government's access points before the CZ pardon decision.
Teresa Goody Guillén: Payments and the SEC Link within the CZ Pardon Story
After the inauguration, Binance and CZ retained Teresa Goody Guillén, a crypto lawyer who was once considered for SEC chair under Trump. According to the Politico report, her company received $290,000 from Binance and CZ this 12 months. This ran parallel to Checkmate Government Relations and the mandate to “deburden the chief branch.”
Teresa Goody Guillén brings expertise in securities law and digital assets. The Politico report reveals that Binance sought advice with an SEC background while processing CZ’s pardon request. This resulted in Binance lobbying going down on two tracks: political access and regulatory framework.
Together, Checkmate Government Relations and Teresa Goody Guillén created complementary lanes. One lead contacted high-level political actors to acquire the Czech Republic's pardon. The other addressed market regulation narratives well-known to SEC stakeholders.
Trump remarks, World Liberty Financial and Binance lobbying expenses
According to the Politico report, Binance spent over $1 million on lobbying in 2022 after which paused after its plea deal in 2023. Under the Trump administration, Binance lobbying has already reached $860,000 this 12 months. During the identical period, Binance expanded its partnerships, including one with World Liberty Financial, a Trump-affiliated company.
At a press conference, Donald Trump defended CZ's pardon. He said Zhao was “persecuted by the Biden administration” and that “what he did was not even against the law.” These lines place CZ's pardon inside a political framework, linking public statements to the timeline of the Politico report.
The partnership with World Liberty Financial appears alongside the Binance lobbying figures. The Politico report presents spending, relationships and public statements in the identical window. This context supports why the CZ pardon immediately caused a stir on Capitol Hill.
Maxine Waters Reaction: Criticism of the CZ pardon and Binance lobbying
Representative Maxine Waters condemned CZ's pardon. She called it a “big favor for crypto criminals.” She pointed to CZ's guilty plea to U.S. money laundering violations and linked the pardon to months of Binance lobbying.
Maxine Waters also alleged that cash flowed into World Liberty Financial as a part of this effort. She characterised CZ's pardon as the results of the influence and financing of a Trump-affiliated company. The accusation keeps the timeline of the Politico report in focus.
The response includes Congress within the narrative. It raises questions for authorities involved in enforcing pardons and combating money laundering. With Maxine Waters on the record, the CZ pardon and Binance lobbying are more likely to come under further scrutiny.
Case background: AML plea, verdict and CZ pardon result
In 2023, CZ pleaded guilty to violating US AML laws and resigned as CEO of Binance. He served 4 months in prison consequently of the plea agreement. CZ’s pardon got here after these months and after Binance’s renewed lobbying push.
The Politico report frames this sequence with filings and charges. It shows that Binance lobbying resumed after the inauguration, targeting the White House and Treasury Department for “exoneration of the chief branch.” The CZ pardon followed this attempt.
Regardless, prediction markets pursued other mercy scenarios, corresponding to betting on Sam Bankman-Fried. These markets are unrelated to CZ, but show how participants are pricing in political risk in high-profile crypto cases. The Politico report continues to concentrate on CZ’s pardon and Binance’s lobbying efforts.
