Title: Trump's Crypto Grift: Pardons, Payoffs, and the Swamp's New Currency
So, Trump pardoned crypto dude Changpeng Zhao, head honcho at Binance. Big deal, right? Another day, another grimy deal in the swamp. Except this one's got all the hallmarks of peak Trumpian corruption: a pardon for a guy who pleaded guilty to letting terrorists funnel money through his exchange, a Trump family crypto venture conveniently bailed out by said guy, and a fat stack of Emirati cash greasing the wheels. You almost have to admire the sheer audacity... almost.
The Pardon That Paid For Itself
Let's be real: pardons ain't about justice. They're about power, and in Trump's world, power equals profit. Elizabeth Oyer, the ex-Justice Department pardon vetter, straight-up calls it "corruption." She's not wrong. Zhao's Binance coughed up some "software" for Trump World Liberty Financial (WLF), the Trump family's attempt to cash in on the crypto craze. Software that, according to some sources, was essential for the thing to even function. You scratch my back, I pardon your… financial crimes?
And get this: After Zhao was sprung from the clink, an Emirati fund dumped two billion into WLF crypto. Two freaking billion into a five-week-old digital fart. "It wasn't strange. It was nuts," one source said. I'll say! What normal investor throws that kinda cash at a brand-new crypto venture run by... well, let's just say the Trumps aren't exactly known for their tech expertise.
Follow the Money (and the Chips)
Harvard's Lawrence Lessig nails it: "Compromised" is the word. We can't know exactly what's going on, but the stench is overpowering. It's not necessarily a direct quid pro quo, Lessig argues, but a "culture of giving and exchanging." An Emirati fund pumps billions into a Trump family venture, and suddenly the US is shipping them restricted AI chips. Coincidence? Maybe. Believable? Give me a break.
And here’s the kicker: Binance left that $2 billion in World Liberty Financial. That means the Trumps and their partners are potentially raking in $80 million a year in interest. Zhao, as one source put it, "now controls whether [WLF] dies or lives. He has a sword over their head.” So, let me get this straight: a guy who admitted to letting terrorists launder money now effectively controls a major source of the Trump family's income? What could possibly go wrong?
Then Trump comes out and says he doesn't even know Zhao. Right. Like we're supposed to believe that. As reported on 60 Minutes, the Trump pardon of crypto billionaire sparks concerns over his use of the pardon power.
It's just… insulting.
The Swamp's New Normal
This whole mess is a perfect example of how the swamp has evolved. It ain't just about backroom deals and lobbyists anymore. Now, it's about crypto, stablecoins, and international funds laundering money, I mean, investing in ventures that are conveniently connected to the most powerful people in the world. It's like the old corruption on steroids, fueled by digital funny money and a complete disregard for ethics.
And sure, Biden pardoned his son, and Clinton pardoned Marc Rich. Politicians have always been shady. But this Trump/Zhao/Emirati tango takes the cake. It’s not just about enriching themselves; it’s about fundamentally undermining the idea that there's even a difference between public service and private gain. Are we really supposed to believe that this is just "business suitability," as the Emiratis claim? Is anyone buying this garbage?