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> Zhao, in November 2023, pleaded guilty in Seattle federal court and agreed to step down as Binance CEO as part of a $4.3 billion settlement by the company with the Department of Justice.

Did he already pay the $4.3 billion? That's a lot of money, even for the federal government.

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I understand that the commutation of George Santos means he does not have to pay the court ordered restitution to the people he defrauded.

Puts an even grosser spin on this incineration of the rule of law.

Penalties within plea deals likely have different rules but given a pardon is a higher rung of absolution I am horrified to wonder if he could clawback any personal financial penalties he has paid or even seek compensation.

From what I can tell, Binance had to pay the $4.3B, while Zhao had to pay $50M.

The status of each isn’t something I can readily find.

Whatever he hasn't paid of that $50M, he'd no longer be on the hook for

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