‘Bitcoin Jesus’ Pays Trump Ally Roger Stone $600,000 to Lobby Against Exit Tax
Roger Ver has paid Roger Stone $600,000 to assist in his defense against federal charges, including mail fraud and tax evasion, which could result in a life sentence. Stone is lobbying to change tax laws related to the indictment, specifically targeting the "exit tax" for Americans renouncing citizenship. Ver faces allegations of misleading the DOJ about his crypto holdings while expatriating in 2014 and failing to report capital gains from a $240 million Bitcoin sale in 2017. He was arrested in Spain and released on bail, with ongoing legal efforts to dismiss the case based on claims of vague tax laws. Stone has not directly lobbied Trump for a pardon but has publicly supported Ver's case. Trump's administration has previously granted pardons to several crypto figures, raising speculation about Ver's chances for clemency. Elon Musk suggested that Ver may not be eligible for a pardon due to his renunciation of U.S. citizenship.
