Trump admin blesses ‘Bitcoin Jesus’

The Trump administration has granted yet another friendly deal to a cryptocurrency investor facing criminal prosecution. President Donald Trump and his family are deeply invested in cryptocurrencies, and his administration has halted numerous crypto-related investigations and pardoned an assortment of crypto enthusiasts, including notorious drug trafficker Ross Ulbrecht.

Now, it appears the administration has blessed Roger Ver, an investor known as “Bitcoin Jesus” among crypto evangelists, with some favorable treatment after he pleaded for Trump to help “end this lawfare.” Reuters reported that Ver, whose lawyer previously represented Trump, agreed to a deferred prosecution agreement stemming from fraud and tax evasion charges:

The agreement calls for the indictment against Ver, 46, to be dismissed after one month if he abides by the deal’s terms, under which the Internal Revenue Service may collect up to $49.9 million, covering his tax liability, civil penalty and interest.

Ver was represented by Christopher Kise, a lawyer who had previously represented Trump. The top Justice Department official listed on Ver’s agreement is Associate Deputy Attorney General Ketan Bhirud, who before joining the government represented the president’s daughter Ivanka Trump in litigation.