CZ's Lawyer Rejects Claims Trump Pardon Was Bought

Changpeng Zhao's Lawyer Rejects Claims Donald Trump Pardon Was Bought

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: November 18, 2025

Key Takeaways

Changpeng Zhao’s lawyer denied claims that President Donald Trump’s pardon involved money or improper influence;
Teresa Goody Guillén said critics misunderstand both business and blockchain, and that no link exists between Trump and World Liberty;
Guillén argued that Zhao’s charges had no fraud or victims and criticized politicians for spreading false claims without accountability.

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Changpeng Zhao’s legal representative has pushed back on claims that his pardon by President Donald Trump involved any form of payment or unethical influence.

Speaking during an episode of the Pomp Podcast hosted by Anthony Pompliano, Zhao’s lawyer, Teresa Goody Guillén, addressed the criticism over Zhao’s pardon.

She described the backlash as being based on incorrect claims and misunderstandings about both blockchain and business practices.

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Guillén questioned the assumption that President Trump had personal ties to a company called World Liberty. She said there is no clear evidence linking the president directly to the firm, despite repeated suggestions in news reports.

She also said that people commenting on the situation often appear to lack a proper grasp of how either the crypto industry or traditional business structures operate.

The former Binance $18.43B CEO received a presidential pardon in October. Some political figures, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, were critical of the pardon.

Warren accused Zhao of helping President Trump with one of his crypto-related businesses and claimed that he used his influence to gain favor.

In response, Guillén said Warren misrepresented the facts. She pointed out that Zhao had not been convicted of the crime Warren mentioned and argued that such claims contribute to false narratives.

Guillén also raised concerns about the legal protections that allow politicians to make public accusations without consequence.

She said Zhao had no prior criminal record, and his charges did not involve fraud or victims.

Recently, Zhao responded to a question about whether Binance might seek to recover the $4.3 billion it paid in a 2023 settlement with US regulators. What did he say? Read the full story.