Trump's Binance Pardon: Just Another Day in the Swamp?
So, Trump pardoned the Binance founder, CZ. Shocker. Like we didn't see this coming from a mile away. The guy pleads guilty to letting Binance become a playground for money launderers, gets a slap on the wrist, and then boom—presidential pardon. What a joke.
And the White House line? "Oh, he was persecuted by the Biden administration." Give me a break. This ain't about persecution; it's about accountability, something this administration seems allergic to.
The Swamp Runs Deep
Former pardon attorney Elizabeth Oyer is calling it "corruption," and honestly, it's hard to disagree. She claims Zhao wasn't even close to meeting the Justice Department's guidelines for a pardon. Money talks, I guess. And in this case, it screams. Trump Pardon for Binance CEO Was ‘Corruption’—Former DOJ Pardon Attorney
CBS News reported that Binance donated software to a Trump family-linked crypto venture. Coincidence? I think not. Then some Emirati fund dumps $2 billion into Binance-backed crypto. It's not just strange, as one source put it, its fuckin' nuts.
But here's the real kicker: Trump says, "I don't know him. I don't believe I've ever met him." Right. And I'm the Queen of England. This whole thing stinks of backroom deals and favors being called in.
Crypto, Crime, and Complicity
The ICIJ report is even more damning. Binance, OKX, HTX, Bybit, Kraken—all these exchanges are allegedly linked to international criminal organizations. Binance, OKX, HTX, Bybit, Kraken cited in ICIJ scam probe Binance alone facilitated over $400 million in transactions for some shady group called Huione. Nice.
And CZ's response? If Binance gets a refund on its $4.3 billion fine, they'll "invest that in America." How generous. It's like a criminal saying, "I'll use my ill-gotten gains to boost the economy!" How noble.
Speaking of that $4.3 billion fine... It's not like Trump can just write a check. Apparently, it's spread across multiple agencies, and Congress would have to get involved to actually refund anything. So, maybe it's just CZ blowing smoke... or maybe it's a trial balloon for something even more corrupt down the line.
You know, it's funny. I remember when crypto was supposed to be this decentralized, anti-establishment thing. Now it's just another tool for the rich and powerful to get richer and more powerful. And the rest of us? We're just along for the ride, watching the show...
Wait, I was supposed to pick up milk. Dammit.
A Broken System
Oyer's firing is another red flag. She says she was canned for refusing to restore gun rights to Mel Gibson, who didn't even submit a proper application. The DOJ denies it, offcourse, but who believes that? She's now a vocal critic, warning about the "ongoing corruption and abuse of power" at the DOJ.
And the experts are chiming in. Harvard law professor Lawrence Lessig calls it a "private form of corruption." Constitutional scholar Michael Gerhardt says it all benefits Trump and his family, not the American people.
But honestly, what's new? This is how the game is played. The rich get richer, the powerful get more powerful, and the rest of us get screwed. It's the American way, ain't it?