Senator Warren Rejects CZ Defamation Threat, Citing DOJ on Money Laundering Plea
Senator Warren's legal team dismissed Changpeng Zhao's defamation threat by citing the DOJ's language regarding his money laundering plea.Summary
Senator Elizabeth Warren's legal team rejected a defamation threat from Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), asserting that her tweet accurately reflected the Department of Justice's (DOJ) description of his guilty plea. The response, issued November 2, 2025, argued that any lawsuit would face challenges based on public records and constitutional protections, specifically referencing the DOJ's press release which detailed CZ's $4B resolution for "anti-money laundering" violations. CZ pleaded guilty to willfully failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program under the Bank Secrecy Act. Warren's team contended that her statement—that CZ "pleaded guilty to a criminal money laundering charge"—mirrors federal prosecutor language and is protected speech under the standard requiring public figures to prove "actual malice." The dispute follows President Trump's pardon of CZ and highlights the ongoing tension between crypto leaders and regulators.
(Source：BeInCrypto)