Changpeng Zhao issues legal notice to Senator Warren to "immediately retract her statements"

Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, who has been at the center of controversy following a pardon by U.S. President Donald Trump, has officially responded to remarks by Senator Elizabeth Warren.

On the 31st (local time), according to crypto-focused media The Block, Changpeng Zhao's legal representative Teresa Gudi Gyen sent a letter to Senator Warren, the Democratic ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee, demanding that she "immediately retract the statements that defamed him."

Senator Warren recently criticized President Trump's pardon of Changpeng Zhao as a "clear act of corruption" in a resolution she submitted to the Senate.

Attorney Gudi Gyen argued, "Changpeng Zhao will not tolerate a U.S. senator abusing public office to repeatedly spread false statements," and claimed, "This resolution has caused serious damage to his reputation."

Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty in 2023 to deficiencies in anti-money laundering programs and was fined $50 million, and Binance paid a $4.3 billion settlement. President Trump officially pardoned Changpeng Zhao last week.

Immediately after the pardon, Senator Warren criticized President Trump's decision on X (formerly Twitter), saying "Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to criminal money laundering charges." Subsequently, Senators Warren and Adam Schiff jointly introduced a resolution condemning the pardon.

In the letter, attorney Gudi Gyen rebutted, "The claim by Senator Warren that 'the Trump family obtained improper benefits from Changpeng Zhao' is contrary to both fact and economic logic," and argued, "If the use of World Liberty Financial's USD1 stablecoin constituted illegal benefit, then every exchange that listed that token should face the same allegation."

Meanwhile, Fox Business reported that Changpeng Zhao is reviewing a defamation lawsuit over Senator Warren's remarks. Senator Warren's office has not yet issued an official statement.