Molly Redden
@mtredden.bsky.social
Reporter covering legal affairs for ProPublica. Have a tip? [email protected] or find me on Signal at mollyredden.14
Read the full story from me and Avi Asher-Schapiro here: www.propublica.org/article/bitc...
How “Bitcoin Jesus” Avoided Prison, Thanks to One of the “Friends of Trump”
Billionaire fugitive Roger Ver was facing federal criminal charges until he sought the services of a select club of President Donald Trump’s former personal attorneys who have easy access to top Justi...
www.propublica.org
January 22, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Read the full story from me and Avi Asher-Schapiro here: www.propublica.org/article/bitc...
“Friends of Trump” are now in high demand for uber-wealthy people accused of white collar crimes.
One defense attorney said he would point clients to Ver’s deal—which Kise signed in giant letters—and say, “These are the guys who got this done.”
One defense attorney said he would point clients to Ver’s deal—which Kise signed in giant letters—and say, “These are the guys who got this done.”
January 22, 2026 at 4:03 PM
“Friends of Trump” are now in high demand for uber-wealthy people accused of white collar crimes.
One defense attorney said he would point clients to Ver’s deal—which Kise signed in giant letters—and say, “These are the guys who got this done.”
One defense attorney said he would point clients to Ver’s deal—which Kise signed in giant letters—and say, “These are the guys who got this done.”
Ver had always maintained he never intended to dodge taxes and assessing Bitcoin for tax purposes is difficult. His lawyers argued the DOJ took his statements out of context. Ver admitted to “willful” misconduct in the final deal.
January 22, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Ver had always maintained he never intended to dodge taxes and assessing Bitcoin for tax purposes is difficult. His lawyers argued the DOJ took his statements out of context. Ver admitted to “willful” misconduct in the final deal.
The DOJ responded that Ver “took full responsibility for his gross financial misconduct” and under Trump, no one can buy their way out of accountability. Kise, Ver, Blanche and the White House did not comment.
January 22, 2026 at 4:02 PM
The DOJ responded that Ver “took full responsibility for his gross financial misconduct” and under Trump, no one can buy their way out of accountability. Kise, Ver, Blanche and the White House did not comment.
Kise even dictated that the final agreement could not use the word “fraud.”
The deal astonished tax experts. “I know of no cases like this,” said one.
A DOJ prosecutor says the deal crushed morale. “It stinks to high heaven.”
The deal astonished tax experts. “I know of no cases like this,” said one.
A DOJ prosecutor says the deal crushed morale. “It stinks to high heaven.”
January 22, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Kise even dictated that the final agreement could not use the word “fraud.”
The deal astonished tax experts. “I know of no cases like this,” said one.
A DOJ prosecutor says the deal crushed morale. “It stinks to high heaven.”
The deal astonished tax experts. “I know of no cases like this,” said one.
A DOJ prosecutor says the deal crushed morale. “It stinks to high heaven.”
After Kise’s intervention, DOJ took prison off the table. They abandoned the criminal charges.
They offered Ver a deal to go free if he paid $50m in taxes and fees–the same amount he allegedly owed 10+ years ago. Less than he recently paid for a luxury yacht.
They offered Ver a deal to go free if he paid $50m in taxes and fees–the same amount he allegedly owed 10+ years ago. Less than he recently paid for a luxury yacht.
January 22, 2026 at 4:01 PM
After Kise’s intervention, DOJ took prison off the table. They abandoned the criminal charges.
They offered Ver a deal to go free if he paid $50m in taxes and fees–the same amount he allegedly owed 10+ years ago. Less than he recently paid for a luxury yacht.
They offered Ver a deal to go free if he paid $50m in taxes and fees–the same amount he allegedly owed 10+ years ago. Less than he recently paid for a luxury yacht.
Kise had helped bring Todd Blanche into Trump’s inner circle. Blanche is now the No. 2 at Justice.
Kise got to work lobbying Blanche and another former Trump family lawyer in DOJ leadership. They cut career prosecutors out of the loop and negotiated with Ver’s team directly.
Kise got to work lobbying Blanche and another former Trump family lawyer in DOJ leadership. They cut career prosecutors out of the loop and negotiated with Ver’s team directly.
January 22, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Kise had helped bring Todd Blanche into Trump’s inner circle. Blanche is now the No. 2 at Justice.
Kise got to work lobbying Blanche and another former Trump family lawyer in DOJ leadership. They cut career prosecutors out of the loop and negotiated with Ver’s team directly.
Kise got to work lobbying Blanche and another former Trump family lawyer in DOJ leadership. They cut career prosecutors out of the loop and negotiated with Ver’s team directly.
But the DOJ under Trump has changed dramatically.
A small club of lawyers who are tight with the admin–prosecutors have nicknamed them “Friends of Trump”–have easy access to DOJ leadership.
Ver hired Chris Kise, Trump’s onetime personal attorney. www.propublica.org/article/bitc...
A small club of lawyers who are tight with the admin–prosecutors have nicknamed them “Friends of Trump”–have easy access to DOJ leadership.
Ver hired Chris Kise, Trump’s onetime personal attorney. www.propublica.org/article/bitc...
How “Bitcoin Jesus” Avoided Prison, Thanks to One of the “Friends of Trump”
Billionaire fugitive Roger Ver was facing federal criminal charges until he sought the services of a select club of President Donald Trump’s former personal attorneys who have easy access to top Justi...
www.propublica.org
January 22, 2026 at 4:01 PM
But the DOJ under Trump has changed dramatically.
A small club of lawyers who are tight with the admin–prosecutors have nicknamed them “Friends of Trump”–have easy access to DOJ leadership.
Ver hired Chris Kise, Trump’s onetime personal attorney. www.propublica.org/article/bitc...
A small club of lawyers who are tight with the admin–prosecutors have nicknamed them “Friends of Trump”–have easy access to DOJ leadership.
Ver hired Chris Kise, Trump’s onetime personal attorney. www.propublica.org/article/bitc...
They believed the crypto world was rife with tax fraud and they wanted to make an example of Ver. They were ready to go to trial.
January 22, 2026 at 4:00 PM
They believed the crypto world was rife with tax fraud and they wanted to make an example of Ver. They were ready to go to trial.
Prosecutors felt their case was airtight, per those familiar: Emails of Ver misleading his own lawyers about his assets. A speech in which Ver said that friends ask him how to use BTC to evade taxes.
January 22, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Prosecutors felt their case was airtight, per those familiar: Emails of Ver misleading his own lawyers about his assets. A speech in which Ver said that friends ask him how to use BTC to evade taxes.
The billionaire, Roger Ver, is not hardcore MAGA. He’s a libertarian who renounced his US citizenship a decade ago on what he called “the happiest day of his life.”
When he left, he controlled about 1% of the world supply of Bitcoin. The DOJ claimed he dodged ~$50m in taxes.
When he left, he controlled about 1% of the world supply of Bitcoin. The DOJ claimed he dodged ~$50m in taxes.
January 22, 2026 at 3:59 PM
The billionaire, Roger Ver, is not hardcore MAGA. He’s a libertarian who renounced his US citizenship a decade ago on what he called “the happiest day of his life.”
When he left, he controlled about 1% of the world supply of Bitcoin. The DOJ claimed he dodged ~$50m in taxes.
When he left, he controlled about 1% of the world supply of Bitcoin. The DOJ claimed he dodged ~$50m in taxes.
…“People don’t want to stand up, and because of that, people are suffering.”
Read my story here: www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Read my story here: www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Trump’s War on Big Law Means It’s Harder to Challenge the Administration
Some of America’s largest law firms are refusing to take pro bono and paid legal work from groups that seek to hold the government to account on issues like environmental protection, LGBTQ+ rights and...
www.propublica.org
August 6, 2025 at 1:16 PM
…“People don’t want to stand up, and because of that, people are suffering.”
Read my story here: www.propublica.org/article/trum...
Read my story here: www.propublica.org/article/trum...
…with Trump ghosted a police accountability nonprofit in the middle of preparations for a major lawsuit
⚖️Wachtell and Kirkland — two of corporate law's biggest moneymakers — are conspicuously absent from pro bono matters they championed in the past
“It’s been a nightmare…
⚖️Wachtell and Kirkland — two of corporate law's biggest moneymakers — are conspicuously absent from pro bono matters they championed in the past
“It’s been a nightmare…
August 6, 2025 at 1:16 PM
…with Trump ghosted a police accountability nonprofit in the middle of preparations for a major lawsuit
⚖️Wachtell and Kirkland — two of corporate law's biggest moneymakers — are conspicuously absent from pro bono matters they championed in the past
“It’s been a nightmare…
⚖️Wachtell and Kirkland — two of corporate law's biggest moneymakers — are conspicuously absent from pro bono matters they championed in the past
“It’s been a nightmare…
Some key examples:
⚖️Winston & Strawn turned down FBI agents trying to stop the DOJ from building a list of employees who worked on Jan 6
⚖️A firm that sounds a lot like Sidley Austin is refusing to represent the ABA against the Trump admin
⚖️One of the 9 firms that cut a deal…
⚖️Winston & Strawn turned down FBI agents trying to stop the DOJ from building a list of employees who worked on Jan 6
⚖️A firm that sounds a lot like Sidley Austin is refusing to represent the ABA against the Trump admin
⚖️One of the 9 firms that cut a deal…
August 6, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Some key examples:
⚖️Winston & Strawn turned down FBI agents trying to stop the DOJ from building a list of employees who worked on Jan 6
⚖️A firm that sounds a lot like Sidley Austin is refusing to represent the ABA against the Trump admin
⚖️One of the 9 firms that cut a deal…
⚖️Winston & Strawn turned down FBI agents trying to stop the DOJ from building a list of employees who worked on Jan 6
⚖️A firm that sounds a lot like Sidley Austin is refusing to represent the ABA against the Trump admin
⚖️One of the 9 firms that cut a deal…