CZ pardon was considered with ‘utmost seriousness,’ White House says
The White House briefing on Tuesday was dominated by questions about President Donald Trump’s pardon of Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the clemency underwent a “thorough review process” by both the Department of Justice and the White House Counsel’s Office before being presented to the president.
Trump later told 60 Minutes that he had “no idea” who Zhao is, distancing himself from the decision. However, CBS released a full transcript revealing omitted exchanges from the aired interview, sparking further scrutiny. The situation has fueled debate over transparency in the administration’s pardon process and the extent of presidential involvement in high-profile clemency cases.
White House stance on the CZ pardon
Leavitt said the pardon was considered with “utmost seriousness” and followed the standard pardon vetting pipeline. She emphasized that multiple lawyers review petitions before any document reaches the president, who is the “ultimate final decision maker.” PBS+1
CZ pardon White House review: what officials say
At the podium, Leavitt clarified that Trump’s “I don’t know him” remark referred to not knowing Zhao personally. The White House reiterated that legal offices conducted the review prior to the president’s sign-off.
What Trump said on 60 Minutes
In an interview recorded Oct. 31 and published Nov. 2, Trump downplayed his familiarity with Zhao and framed the decision within broader views on U.S. crypto leadership. CBS noted its video was “condensed for clarity”; the posted transcript includes questions on appearances of corruption that were not in the aired cut.
Legal background on Zhao
Zhao pleaded guilty on Nov. 21, 2023, to failing to maintain an effective anti-money-laundering program at Binance, part of a broader resolution with U.S. agencies. A federal judge sentenced him on Apr. 30, 2024, to four months in prison.
Allegations and denials around a crypto deal
Separate reporting has examined whether Binance or Zhao had links to a Trump family crypto initiative and a $2 billion investment that referenced a stablecoin. The Wall Street Journal covered the surrounding timeline; Binance CEO Richard Teng has denied that Binance promoted or selected a Trump-linked stablecoin for the deal.
Context & Analysis
The White House’s emphasis on process signals an attempt to separate legal review from political optics following Trump’s remarks and media edits. The sentencing history—guilty plea to AML control failures and a short custodial term provides context for claims that penalties were excessive, but those are political characterizations rather than legal findings. Allegations tying Binance to a Trump-family stablecoin have prompted denials from Binance’s leadership; absent official filings, these remain unproven claims that warrant cautious framing.
Conclusion
The administration insists that Changpeng Zhao’s pardon followed standard review procedures, emphasizing that it was handled through the usual Department of Justice and White House channels. Officials have not indicated any deviation from established clemency norms despite mounting public attention.
Still, President Trump’s remarks have intensified scrutiny over the process. Questions remain about whether outside crypto interests may have influenced government decisions. These lingering concerns are expected to prompt continued oversight from lawmakers and further investigation by the media into the transparency and independence of the pardon process.
FAQs
Q : What did the White House say about the CZ pardon?
A : It said the pardon received a “thorough review” by DOJ and White House Counsel before reaching the president.
Q : Did Trump say he knows Changpeng Zhao?
A : No. He told CBS he “know[s] nothing about it,” adding he doesn’t know Zhao personally.
Q : What was Zhao convicted of?
A : He pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective AML program at Binance, a Bank Secrecy Act violation.
Q : How long was Zhao’s sentence?
A : Four months, imposed on Apr. 30, 2024.
Q : Were parts of the 60 Minutes exchange cut?
A : Yes. CBS posted a transcript containing exchanges that were not in the aired cut, saying the video was “condensed for clarity.”
Q : Did Binance influence a Trump-linked stablecoin or deal?
A : Binance’s CEO Richard Teng denied that the exchange promoted or selected a Trump-linked stablecoin in a $2B deal.
Q : Is the CZ pardon White House review typical for clemency?
A : Officials described it as standard legal review through DOJ and Counsel before presidential action.
Facts
Event
White House defends review process behind presidential pardon of Changpeng “CZ” ZhaoDate/Time
2025-11-05T15:30:00+05:00Entities
Changpeng Zhao (Binance founder); White House; Department of Justice; CBS News/60 Minutes; Karoline Leavitt (Press Secretary); Richard Teng (Binance CEO)Figures
Guilty plea (2023-11-21); sentence 4 months (2024-04-30); alleged $2 bn deal referenced in reports; $4.3 bn Binance resolution (aggregate with U.S. agencies) Department of Justice+2AP News+2Quotes
“I know nothing about it.” President Trump (CBS 60 Minutes) CBS NewsSources
CBS transcript + video; DOJ press release; AP News sentencing; PBS briefing clip. PBS+3CBS News+3Department of Justice+3