After weeks of political heat surrounding Donald Trump’s crypto-linked pardons, a new storm is brewing, this time between Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren.
CZ has confirmed plans to file a defamation lawsuit against the senator, accusing her of spreading “false statements” regarding money laundering charges that never existed.
CZ Strikes Back at Senator Warren
In a post shared on X, CZ stated he will sue Elizabeth Warren if she doesn’t publicly retract her remarks linking him to criminal money laundering.
Through his attorney Teresa Goody Guillen, CZ has prepared a formal letter demanding an immediate retraction of Warren’s statements. The letter warns that failure to comply will result in the filing of a defamation lawsuit.
CZ’s camp maintains that the senator’s characterization misrepresents the facts and ignores the compliance nature of CZ’s legal issues rather than criminal wrongdoing.
Background of the Dispute
The controversy began from Senator Warren’s public remarks following a presidential pardon granted to CZ by former President Donald Trump. The pardon, issued last week, cleared CZ of legal penalties tied to a 2023 plea agreement over compliance failures linked to the Bank Secrecy Act.
The Department of Justice found no evidence of money laundering or fraud, but CZ faced penalties and stepped down as Binance CEO amid regulatory scrutiny.
Senator Warren, a vocal crypto critic and influential member of the Senate Banking Committee, accused CZ on social media of being a “convicted felon seeking a pardon” with trump crypto ties.
Although, these allegations have been vigorously denied by CZ and his legal team, who argue the claims are false, defamatory, and intended to unfairly tarnish his standing in the crypto community.
“War on Crypto” Intensifies
CZ’s response fuels the ongoing clash between crypto innovators and Washington regulators, accusing Warren, former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, and others of backing failed FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried while unfairly targeting Binance.
Altough, some legal experts note defamation suits against senators are difficult due to immunity and the high standard of proving “actual malice.” The case may depend on whether Warren knowingly spread false claims or if her comments are protected political speech.
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