Samourai Co-Founder Claims Biden-Era Lawfare in Calling for Trump Pardon
Keonne Rodriguez, co-founder of Samourai Wallet, is set to begin a five-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to operating an illegal money-transmitting business. He has publicly asked US President Donald Trump for a pardon, claiming no victims resulted from his actions and that his prosecution was politically motivated by the Biden administration. Rodriguez also implored Trump to pardon William “Bill” Lonergan Hill, another Samourai executive sentenced to four years, arguing both men were targeted under an anti-innovation agenda. His plea follows Trump’s vague statement that he would “take a look” at a pardon, although Rodriguez’s official application status remains unclear. Other crypto figures, such as Ross Ulbricht (Silk Road) and former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, have successfully received pardons from Trump, often using similar arguments regarding overreach and politicized justice. Meanwhile, Rodriguez’s appeal reflects broader crypto community concerns about regulatory hostility. As of Friday, prediction markets did not offer odds on a Rodriguez pardon, with Steve Bannon seen as a likelier candidate for Trump’s clemency.
