Trump's Crypto Pardon: A Question of Connections

A recent discussion on CNN shed light on President Donald Trump's pardon of Changpeng Zhao, the crypto billionaire behind Binance. The conversation took a heated turn when Scott Jennings defended Trump, claiming he probably didn't know Zhao personally. The debate kicked off with host Abby Phillip questioning how Trump could pardon someone so prominent in the crypto world without knowing him. She pointed out that Zhao's company, Binance, had significant dealings with the U. S. government and that Trump's family had investments in a crypto firm linked to Zhao. Jennings, however, stood firm, arguing that presidents often pardon people they don't know personally. He suggested that Trump was likely advised by others and that Zhao might have been over-prosecuted by the Biden administration. When pressed about Trump's family business ties to Zhao, Jennings admitted that Trump probably knew about these connections but pardoned Zhao based on a recommendation. The conversation took a humorous turn when progressive activist David Hogg sarcastically remarked that the pardon was "totally above board. " He noted that Zhao had publicly thanked Trump after the pardon and promoted the Trump family's crypto business. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla. ) chimed in, criticizing Trump's claim of ignorance about Zhao. He highlighted the irony of Trump's situation, given the Republican focus on Biden's alleged cognitive decline and use of an autopen for signatures. Moskowitz argued that Trump's corruption was evident, unlike Biden's alleged issues, which haven't been as publicly displayed. Jennings countered by agreeing that Biden's lack of public appearances was notable but didn't directly address the corruption allegations against Trump.