CZ an ‘unacceptable risk of flight,’ should stay in US: DOJ
United States government prosecutors are trying to stop former Binance boss Changpeng “CZ” Zhao from leaving the country, expressing concern about his potential flight risk.
In a Nov. 22 filing to a Seattle federal court, U.S. prosecutors requested a review and overturn of a judge’s decision that would allow Zhao to return to his home in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a $175 million bond under the condition he returns to the U.S. two weeks before his February 2024 sentencing.
In a proposed order, U.S. prosecutors wrote Zhao “presents an unacceptable risk of flight and nonappearance if he is allowed to leave the United States pending sentencing.”
In an accompanying letter, prosecutors said if Zhao decided not to come back to the U.S., then the government “would not be able to secure his return.”
In its argument, the government pointed to Zhao’s ties and favored status in the UAE along with the country’s lack of an extradition treaty with the U.S. as reasons to block him from leaving the country.
“He has three young children and a partner in the UAE; once in the UAE and faced with the prospect of traveling back to the United States to face up to 18 months in prison, he may elect to instead simply stay in the UAE with his family.”
Prosecutors said Zhao could live on his wealth in the UAE indefinitely as a vast majority of it is held overseas away from U.S. jurisdiction.
The government also argued Zhao’s bond was inadequate as a majority of the $175 million used to secure his release was outside the reach of the U.S.
Zhao recently confessed to failing to maintain an effective Anti-Money Laundering program at Binance and part of his plea agreement saw him step down as CEO of the exchange and pay a $50 million fine.
Related: Binance’s DOJ settlement offers a glimmer of hope for the crypto industry
Industry experts and observers have argued that Binance’s settlement with the Justice Department is a positive outcome for the crypto industry, further legitimizing it in the U.S.
Additionally, crypto markets have already rebounded from the bad news regarding one of the industry’s most enigmatic and influential players.
Total market capitalization has already returned to pre-Binance news levels, hitting $1.48 trillion during the Thursday morning Asian trading session.
Magazine: Deposit risk: What do crypto exchanges really do with your money?
Politics
Wes Streeting ‘crossed the line’ by opposing assisted dying in public, says Labour peer Harriet Harman
Wes Streeting “crossed the line” by opposing assisted dying in public and the argument shouldn’t “come down to resources”, a Labour peer has said.
Speaking on Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Baroness Harriet Harman criticised the health secretary for revealing how he is going to vote on the matter when it comes before parliament later this month.
MPs are being given a free vote, meaning they can side with their conscience and not party lines, so the government is supposed to be staying neutral.
But Mr Streeting has made clear he will vote against legalising assisted dying, citing concerns end-of-life care is not good enough for people to make an informed choice, and that some could feel pressured into the decision to save the NHS money.
He has also ordered a review into the potential costs of changing the law, warning it could come at the expense of other NHS services if implemented.
Baroness Harman said Mr Streeting has “crossed the line in two ways”.
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“He should not have said how he was going to vote, because that breaches neutrality and sends a signal,” she said.
“And secondly… he’s said the problem is that it will cost money to bring in an assisted dying measure, and therefore he will have to cut other services.
“But paradoxically, he also said it would be a slippery slope because people will be forced to bring about their own death in order to save the NHS money. Well, it can’t be doing both things.
“It can’t be both costing the NHS money and saving the NHS money.”
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Review into assisted dying costs
Baroness Harman said the argument “should not come down to resources” as it is a “huge moral issue” affecting “only a tiny number of people”.
She added that people should not mistake Mr Streeting for being “a kind of proxy for Keir Starmer”.
“The government is genuinely neutral and all of those backbenchers, they can vote whichever way they want,” she added.
Read more on this story:
‘Fix care before assisted dying legislation’
Why assisted dying is controversial – and where it’s already legal
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously expressed support for assisted dying, but it is not clear how he intends to vote on the issue or if he will make his decision public ahead of time.
The cabinet has varying views on the topic, with the likes of Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood siding with Mr Streeting in her opposition but Energy Secretary Ed Miliband being for it.
Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband is said to support the bill. Pic: Reuters
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has concerns. Pic: Reuters
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The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is being championed by Labour backbencher Kim Leadbeater, who wants to give people with six months left to live the choice to end their lives.
Under her proposals, two independent doctors must confirm a patient is eligible for assisted dying and a High Court judge must give their approval.
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Labour MP Kim Leadbeater discusses End of Life Bill
The bill will also include punishments of up to 14 years in prison for those who break the law, including coercing someone into ending their own life.
MPs will debate and vote on the legislation on 29 November, in what will be the first Commons vote on assisted dying since 2015, when the proposal was defeated.
The crypto industry is “going to save hundreds of millions of dollars” with Donald Trump as president, Consensys CEO Joe Lubin forecasts.
Former CFTC Acting Chair Chris Giancarlo said he’s “already cleaned up earlier Gary Gensler mess,” shooting down speculation he’d replace the SEC Chair.
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