Newsom Launches Site Tracking Trump's Criminal Pardons Including Crypto Figures
California Governor Gavin Newsom has launched a state-backed website aimed at tracking what he terms former President Donald Trump's "top criminal cronies," presenting the initiative as a measure for transparency amid ongoing public safety and political debates.
The website highlights several high-profile pardons related to the cryptocurrency world. Among them is Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, CEO of Binance, who pleaded guilty in 2023 to violations of the Bank Secrecy Act and was sentenced to four months in prison in 2024. Trump issued a full pardon to Zhao in October 2025, according to both the White House and Binance.
Ross Ulbricht, founder of Silk Road, is also listed on the site. Ulbricht was sentenced to life imprisonment for narcotics and money laundering linked to more than $214 million in illegal drug sales, and Trump pardoned him for his 2015 conviction.
Furthermore, the site notes the March pardons of BitMEX co-founders Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, Gregory Dwyer, and Samuel Reed for violations of the Bank Secrecy Act. Another individual mentioned is Keonne Rodriguez, CEO of Samourai Wallet, whose case is reportedly under review by Trump; Rodriguez was sentenced to five years, with prosecutors seeking the maximum term.
The website also cites other notable pardons granted by Trump, including those of Rod Blagojevich, Juan Orlando Hernández, and George Santos. Additionally, it references clemency extended to approximately 1,500 individuals connected to the January 6 Capitol attack.
In contrast to the federal pardons and funding cuts under Trump, California reports having invested $1.7 billion since 2019 in crime prevention efforts, law enforcement hiring, and operations targeting organized retail theft.
Adding to the political response, Representative Ro Khanna has proposed legislation that would bar elected officials from owning or launching cryptocurrencies, requiring those with existing crypto assets to divest or place them in blind trusts.
