Latest news with #Argall
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
How a $30 million crypto pardon scheme failed even before it got to Trump
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The audacious plan crystallized over a lobster dinner in Puerto Rico. That's where a self-styled connector for the MAGA era says he and a child actor-turned-crypto enthusiast hatched an idea to secure a presidential pardon for Bitcoin booster Roger Ver and make millions for themselves in the men, Matt Argall and Brock Pierce, had only tenuous ties to the entrepreneur known as Bitcoin Jesus, but they knew he was angling for a grant of clemency from President Donald Trump , who had just been elected to a second term. Most importantly, the pair suspected Ver was a billionaire, and figured that if all went accordingly, he'd be willing to pay $30 million for their Argall reached out to Ver, who was under indictment for tax evasion, offering to assemble a group of people with strong connections to Washington insiders who could help push the administration for a pardon. He proposed Ver wire $10 million to a trustee account to set the process in motion and cough up an additional $20 million success fee for him and his associates once the pardon came through, according to communications reviewed by Bloomberg News and confirmed by people with direct knowledge of the unclear whether Argall and his associates had genuine connections to people with power, much less the clout to persuade them that Ver's pardon was a worthy cause. The White House denied any knowledge of the the episode shows how people on the periphery of the MAGA movement are touting supposed ties to Trump and other administration officials to try to persuade white-collar defendants to fork over money. Those pitchmen, promising to try to get the cases in front of the White House, are increasingly seeking to cash in on the clemency business, a space once largely populated by pro-bono the fee proposed to Ver is at the higher end of the scale, other lobbyists, lawyers and consultants are offering more a la carte options to potential clients; a $5,000 finder's fee to be put in touch with someone who knows someone or $1 million to prepare an application that is intended to appeal to Trump's grievances about overzealous a series of communications over encrypted networks earlier this year, Argall and Pierce formulated a plan for Ver. At times, other potential participants with conservative credentials and clemency track records were brought into the discussion. Those people have since denied playing any significant role in the game plan, according to people familiar with the pitch and a review of communications, went something like this: Try to convince as many MAGA influencers as possible of the merits of Ver's cause, present Ver as someone who was treated unfairly, and leverage purported relationships with senior White House officials to get the case in front of House spokesman Harrison Fields said all pardon applications are thoroughly reviewed by the pardon czar and White House counsel's office.'The pardon process is a serious one, and outside grifters trying to make a big buck by overstating access to the White House will realize that soon enough,' he said. 'The president, after consulting with his senior advisers, will have the final say on pardons.'Ver had a reputation as one of cryptocurrency 's most effective promoters when the industry was still in its infancy. Last year, he was charged with tax evasion and mail fraud, accused of hiding gains from selling $240 million in has since asked a judge to dismiss the criminal indictment against him, arguing he followed a lawyer's advice about tax obligations when he relinquished his citizenship and moved to Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2014. A media representative for Ver didn't respond to requests for the 2024 presidential election, Ver joined a chorus of prosecuted crypto investors angling for relief from Trump. He used social media to build a pardon campaign and sat down for interviews with conservative commentators to discuss his battle with US play was further spotlighted in May when the Wall Street Journal reported that associates of the crypto investor had offered $5 million to $10 million to lobbyists to try to secure him a pardon. Ver's attorney David Schoen said that no one intended to pay for a pardon for this year, Argall began reaching out to Ver, offering to advocate for his freedom. An associate described him as a dealmaker. Argall told people he has helped companies secure lucrative government contracts, according to communications reviewed by previously ran call centers near Tampa, Florida, selling health supplements like African mangoes and açaí, with one client describing him in a LinkedIn post as a guy with a bleached Mohawk who could sell anything to his LinkedIn profile photo featured him with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Argall, whose email signature reads 'from the desk of Lord Argall,' didn't appear to have any clear connections to Trump's inner circle. His pitch to Ver leaned heavily on the purported political sway of others.A spokesman for Kennedy didn't respond to requests for the communications reviewed by Bloomberg, Argall said that Ver's situation was brought to his attention by Washington lobbyist Robert Wasinger, who is described on his biography page as one of the first senior members of Trump's 2016 and Ver were first in contact in late 2024 about lobbying for a potential pardon, but the lobbyist wasn't retained, people familiar with the matter said. Wasinger had success in the clemency world before, having helped Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy secure a pardon during the first Trump administration, according to people with knowledge of the declined to comment through a communications earlier this year with Ver, Argall's friend Pierce — who starred in the Disney film The Mighty Ducks as a child — was involved. One of the co-founders of Tether, Pierce is now chairman of the Bitcoin Foundation and darts between Washington and Puerto Rico, where he bought an old W Hotel that has been at the center of costly one of their interactions in January, Pierce thanked Ver for his contribution to the crypto industry, assuring the indicted investor that he had his back, according to a review of the communications. That same day, Argall posted photographs on Instagram of an ocean sunset and him and Pierce, drinks in some of the communications, Argall suggested that people who would help work on Ver's case had supposed connections to senior officials in Trump's Argall said in an interview, knew Ver from their early crypto days and estimated Ver's net worth was somewhere from $10 billion to $20 billion. Pierce and Argall figured that asking Ver to pay them a $20 million success fee for securing his pardon was more than reasonable, Argall told said in the interview that initially, he thought Ver was serious about engaging him and others to lobby his cause, and that he traveled to Washington on multiple occasions to lay the Ver's attorney, told Bloomberg he believed the people behind the pardon proposal 'were falsely claiming to have high-level contacts.''It is absolutely clear to me that no one in the White House had any part in this process,' Schoen in the interview with Bloomberg, said that he saw himself as a connector. 'This wasn't about me trying to make dough,' he said. 'If I made this happen, since my guys came through, hook me up after.'He said the money could have been used to fund a crypto project. Or maybe he'd just get 'good karma' for helping didn't respond to multiple requests for February, Argall introduced Ver to Washington lawyer Jesse Binnall, who had represented Trump in litigation tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, riots, and touted him as possibly being able to help, according to communications reviewed by outlined his track record advocating conservative causes before mapping out a rough path to securing a presidential pardon. He didn't speak or agree when Argall reiterated the $30 million fee structure to Ver, according to the communications.'Binnall's sole involvement in the Ver matter was limited to a single phone call,' a spokesperson for the Binnall Law Group said. 'He had no role whatsoever in setting, negotiating or pursuing any fee of any amount, nor did he take on the client or have any further involvement in the matter.'By March, the ambitious plot appears to have fizzled out, with an email reviewed by Bloomberg showing Ver ignored follow-up texts and calls from Argall.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Protestors outside Sen. Argall's office object to civics bee question
A group of about 10 protestors gathered outside the Pottsville office of State Sen. David Argall (R-Rush Twp.) on Wednesday in objection to Argall's recent question to a sixth-grade student during the local round of the National Civics Bee. The protestors held signs referring to the question that Argall posed on the topic of book banning, when he asked the student if pornographic magazines should be allowed in kindergarten. Argall, a Republican who represents Schuylkill, Carbon and southern Luzerne counties, has since apologized for the question, admitting that it was inappropriate for the setting and that he made a mistake in asking it. But the fact that Argall asked it to begin with shows that Republicans politicians on the local, state and federal levels are so used to relaying MAGA talking points that they now do it without considering the audience, said Claire Kempes of Pottsville, who helped lead the protest. 'We really oppose book banning, and we oppose the way that Sen. Argall handled that question,' she said. 'They (Republican lawmakers) are scared to death to speak truth to power anymore. They use 'Maga-speak' even when talking to an 11-year-old kid.' Argall's Pottsville office was closed for a staff event midday Wednesday when the protest occurred, according to a sign on the door. Argall's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Protestors gather for a rally against Sen. David Argall's civics bee question outside the senator's office on Centre Street in Pottsville, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR) The civics competition was held April 16 by the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce at the Penn State Schuylkill campus in Schuylkill Haven. A North Schuylkill sixth grader told the panel about her essay topic — book banning. The girl was referred to as Mary A. since the National Civics Bee has a strict policy stating that competitors should only be identified by their first name and last initial. When it was Argall's turn to talk to her, he noted the issue was relevant and widely debated in the state Senate. He then repeated to Mary a question that he said was brought up to the Senate recently: 'Should pornographic magazines be allowed in kindergarten?' Mary asked the senator for clarification: 'What does that mean?' Argall replied, 'Pictures of naked people.' Mary said that she doesn't believe such materials should be allowed in kindergarten and clarified what she meant by her topic of book banning. 'I don't think certain things like that should be allowed in schools for younger people, but that's a big difference than other books about … other people — people trying to be themselves — books like that are getting banned,' she explained. 'But I do agree that books like that should not be in elementary schools and kindergarten.' After the event, Mary's mother, Erin Anderson, said in a public Facebook post that the question 'was both wildly inappropriate and ridiculous.' Anderson said the discussion had no place at the civics bee, noting that her daughter's paper had nothing to do with pornography. 'I don't know when Mr. Argall last stepped foot in a library, but they aren't providing pornography,' Anderson wrote. 'Discussing this with my 6th grade daughter on a public stage shows a shocking lack of decency.' The post gathered a huge online reaction, with most joining in the criticism of Argall. Argall posted an apology on Facebook and emailed it in response to a question. 'During last night's local round of the National Civics Bee, I posed a question as a volunteer judge to a participant that was not age-appropriate for this setting,' he said. 'I apologize to the young lady, her family, and all the participants who worked hard to get to this point, with excellent presentations by the students who submitted entries on book bans and many other important subjects. 'I was attempting to ask if some books and magazines are not appropriate for some age groups, a subject which has received considerable attention in the General Assembly in recent years. In hindsight, my obvious mistake was in citing an example that was itself not appropriate for this age group, a mistake which I will not make again.' Colleen Kucirka of West Penn Township was among the protestors on Wednesday, holding a sign that said, 'Ban porn questions at the civics bee, not books.' Argall's question was embarrassing not just for the student and her family, but for all of those attending the event, and it forced parents to answer questions about pornography from their children, she said. Kempes agreed, and again said Argall's question was part of a larger problem in today's politics. 'It's scary,' she said. 'People need to be paying attention. We are.'
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania senator asked child ‘pornography' question during civics competition
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. (WHTM) — A Pennsylvania State Senator is apologizing after posing a pornography question to a sixth grade girl during a civics competition. On Wednesday, a local National Civics Bee competition was held at Penn State Schuylkill in Schuylkill Haven, giving students in grades 6-8 a chance to 'flex their civics knowledge for a chance to win recognition and cash prizes.' According to the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce website, these student competitors came to discuss a variety of essay topics. Rapper Azealia Banks says she regrets Trump vote However, one student's topic of Book Banning drew a bit of controversy, not because of her topic, but because of a question asked by one of the participating judges, who happens to be a State Senator. According to a Facebook post by the mother of the girl whose essay was about book banning, State Sen. David Argall (R-Carbon/Luzerne/Schuylkill) asked the sixth grader if it was 'appropriate to give pornographic magazines to kindergarteners.' The mother says her daughter asked what the senator meant, seemingly because the young girl did not know what pornography was. Argall, the mother says, then responded by telling the young girl that pornography was 'naked pictures of people.' 'This discussion has no place at the Civics Bee,' the mother shared online. 'I am further appalled and furious that I now have to explain pornography to my fourth grader who was there to cheer on her sister.' Facebook sending out $40 payments to users over 'Like button' issue In response to the incident, Argall told abc27 news the following: During last night's local round of the National Civics Bee, I posed a question as a volunteer judge to a participant that was not age-appropriate for this setting. I apologize to the young lady, her family, and all the participants who worked hard to get to this point, with excellent presentations by the students who submitted entries on book bans and many other important subjects. I was attempting to ask if some books and magazines are not appropriate for some age groups, a subject which has received considerable attention in the general assembly in recent years. In hindsight, my obvious mistake was in citing an example that was itself not appropriate for this age group, a mistake which I will not make again. State Senator Argall The next round of the Civics Bee will be held in Harrisburg. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sen. Dave Argall's Civics Bee question stirs controversy
The parent of a sixth grade student competing at Wednesday's local round of the National Civics Bee raised concern about what she believed was an inappropriate question asked of her daughter by state Sen. David G. Argall, one of the event's judges. During the event, held at Penn State Schuylkill, judges took turns asking each of the top five contestants questions about the essays they had submitted for the Civics Bee. Mary A., a sixth grader at North Schuylkill, told the panel about her essay topic — book banning. The National Civics Bee has a strict policy stating that competitors should only be identified by their first name and last initial. When it was Argall's turn to talk to her, he noted the issue was relevant and widely debated in the state Senate. He then repeated to Mary a question that he said was brought up to the Senate recently: 'Should pornographic magazines be allowed in kindergarten?' Mary asked the senator for clarification: 'What does that mean?' Argall replied, 'Pictures of naked people.' Mary said that she doesn't believe such materials should be allowed in kindergarten, and clarified what she meant by her topic of book banning. 'I don't think certain things like that should be allowed in schools for younger people, but that's a big difference than other books about … other people — people trying to be themselves — books like that getting banned,' she explained. 'But I do agree that books like that should not be in elementary schools and kindergarten.' After the event, Mary's mother, Erin Anderson, said in a public Facebook post that the question 'was both wildly inappropriate and ridiculous.' Anderson said the discussion had no place at the Civics Bee, noting that her daughter's paper had nothing to do with pornography. 'I don't know when Mr. Argall last stepped foot in a library, but they aren't providing pornography,' Anderson wrote. 'Discussing this with my 6th grade daughter on a public stage shows a shocking lack of decency.' As of Thursday afternoon, Anderson's post garnered more than 2,000 reactions, more than 200 comments and was shared by more than 3,000 people. Argall later apologized for his question, saying it was inappropriate for the setting. 'During last night's local round of the National Civics Bee, I posed a question as a volunteer judge to a participant that was not age-appropriate for this setting,' Argall said in an email Thursday. 'I apologize to the young lady, her family, and all the participants who worked hard to get to this point, with excellent presentations by the students who submitted entries on book bans and many other important subjects. 'I was attempting to ask if some books and magazines are not appropriate for some age groups, a subject which has received considerable attention in the General Assembly in recent years. In hindsight, my obvious mistake was in citing an example that was itself not appropriate for this age group, a mistake which I will not make again.' Anderson, who attended the event with her husband, their younger daughter and Mary's grandmother, said the family was stunned when they heard Argall's question. They thought it was inappropriate and irrelevant to the content of Mary's essay. Anderson said she is proud of the calm and deliberate manner in which Mary responded, attempting to steer the conversation back to her topic. 'Despite being confused and put on the spot, she remained composed and respectful,' Anderson said in an email Thursday. 'I am incredibly proud of how she held herself together in such an unexpected and inappropriate moment.' Anderson said that discussions about adult content, media regulations or legal standards for libraries are best held in legislative hearings, professional forums and public policy spaces, and not in front of children during a civics competition. 'This wasn't a slip of the tongue,' she said. 'It was a deliberate, inappropriate question directed at a 12-year-old girl in a civic setting meant to celebrate youth leadership. What I do want is for student civic competitions like this to have clear protocols in place so that no other child is placed in a similar situation. Children should be asked questions about their essays — not dragged into adult talking points or made to define inappropriate content on stage.' Anderson clarified that Mary's essay was about the 'civic and constitutional implications of book banning,' focusing on how books are sometimes banned due to what could be deemed offensive content, including language, violence or the presence of LGBTQ+ characters. 'She argued that this violates the founding principles of equality and the civic virtue of respect,' Anderson said. 'She offered real, age-appropriate solutions: working with local librarians, school board members, and even elected officials to raise awareness and defend access to books for all students, especially those from underrepresented communities. 'Her thoughtful approach to civic action deserves to be the center of this conversation — not the deeply inappropriate behavior of an adult who misused the platform.' Mary, who received a trophy and a cash award for her third-place finish, made it through two rounds of multiple-choice quizzes to reach the final pool of five contestants. She and the other students who finished in the top three will advance to the state level of the National Civics Bee in Harrisburg on June 13.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania State Senator asked child 'pornography' question during National Civics Bee competition
SCHUYKILL HAVEN, Pa. (WHTM) — A Pennsylvania State Senator is apologizing after posing a pornogrpahy question to a 6th grade girl during a civics competition. On Wednesday, April 16, a local National Civics Bee competition was held at Penn State Schuylkill in Schuylkill Haven, giving students in grades 6th through 8th a chance to 'flex their civics knowledge for a chance to win recognition and cash prizes.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now According to the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce website, these student competitors came to discuss a variety of essay topics. However, one student's topic of Book Banning drew a bit of controversy, not because of her topic, but because of a question asked by one of the participating judges, who happens to be a State Senator. According to a Facebook post by the mother of the girl whose essay was about book banning, State Sen. David Argall (R-Carbon/Luzerne/Schuylkill) asked the 6th grade girl if it was 'appropriate to give pornographic magazines to kindergarteners.' The mother says her daughter asked what the State Senator meant, seemingly because the young girl did not know what pornography was. Argall, the mother says, then responded by telling the young girl that pornography was 'naked pictures of people.' 'This discussion has no place at the Civics Bee,' the mother shared online. 'I am further appalled and furious that I now have to explain pornography to my 4th grader who was there to cheer on her sister.' In response to the incident, Argall told abc27 news the following: During last night's local round of the National Civics Bee, I posed a question as a volunteer judge to a participant that was not age-appropriate for this setting. I apologize to the young lady, her family, and all the participants who worked hard to get to this point, with excellent presentations by the students who submitted entries on book bans and many other important subjects. I was attempting to ask if some books and magazines are not appropriate for some age groups, a subject which has received considerable attention in the General Assembly in recent years. In hindsight, my obvious mistake was in citing an example that was itself not appropriate for this age group, a mistake which I will not make again. State Senator Argall The next round of the Civics Bee will be held in Harrisburg. abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
