Odaily Planet Daily reports that Ches McDowell, a North Carolina lobbyist and close friend of Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of President Trump, has recently become one of Washington's most active lobbyists. His company, Checkmate Government Relations, generated $7.1 million in revenue in the past three months alone. Disclosure documents show that Binance hired McDowell in late September to lobby the White House and Treasury Department on financial policies and "administrative relief" issues, and paid his company $450,000 in the past month.

It's also been reported that CZ had already begun seeking a pardon. In February of this year, Binance and CZ each hired cryptocurrency lawyer Teresa Goody Guillén, who was considered by Trump for appointment as SEC Chair. Her law firm has received a combined $290,000 in fees from Binance and CZ to date. Neither McDowell nor Guillén responded to requests for comment.