Key Takeaways
- Elon Musk is reviewing a potential pardon for Roger Ver.
- Advocates highlight concerns over attorney-client privilege breaches in Ver’s tax case.
- The campaign parallels Ross Ulbricht’s recent release, emphasizing systemic overreach.
Elon Musk, overseeing President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.), has pledged to consider clemency for Roger Ver, a prominent Bitcoin advocate known as:
Bitcoin Jesus.
This comes days after Trump granted a full pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road.
Growing support
The online campaign for Ver’s pardon gained traction following Ulbricht’s release.
Advocates like Ray Youssef, Naomi Brockwell, and Libertarian National Committee Chair Angela McArdle have called for Ver’s exoneration, highlighting concerns over alleged breaches of attorney-client privilege in his tax evasion case.
Legal background
Ver, an early cryptocurrency adopter and vocal Bitcoin Cash supporter, has been accused of owing $48 million in taxes related to his expatriation.
He has denied wrongdoing, claiming reliance on expert advice and raising constitutional issues over withheld evidence and subpoenaed communications.
Brockwell said:
That privileged communications with his lawyers were subpoenaed is a terrible precedent for privacy.
Official response
Responding to calls for action, Musk signaled his intent to review the case when he tweeted:
Will inquire.
Advocates argue that Ver’s pardon would address systemic overreach and reinforce principles of privacy and due process.
Parallels to Ulbricht
The momentum for Ver’s clemency parallels Ulbricht’s case, which highlighted government overreach and excessive sentencing in the cryptocurrency space.
Bret Weinstein urged President Trump to act, stating:
Pardoning Roger is the strongest signal the President could send that Biden’s war on crypto is over.
