A popular figure in the cryptocurrency world known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” who has been charged in a multimillion-dollar tax evasion case, asked a federal court to drop the charges against him. Bitcoin influencer Roger Ver responded to the Biden administration, accusing the US government of unconstitutional use of excessive power to cripple the cryptocurrency industry.
Seeking dismissal of the case
Ver’s legal advisors recently requested the dismissal of all tax evasion cases against the Bitcoin influencer, citing that the US government has exceeded its actions, which have gone beyond what is allowed in the constitution.
In February, Bitcoin Jesus was arrested while participating in a cryptocurrency conference in Barcelona over accusations of evading taxes on his BTC sales.
Roger Ver intends to fight what he claims is a politically motivated movement against cryptocurrencies by enlisting the services of lawyers at Steptoe LLP and Kimura London & White.
🚨NEW from me: Roger Ver’s legal team moves to dismiss indictment alleging government overreach
Lawyers for @rogerkveralso known as ‘Bitcoin Jesus’, expect their tax evasion charges to be dropped as part of Trump’s pledge to end #crypto regulatory blitz.
-Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) December 4, 2024
On Tuesday, his legal team asked Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald of the United States District Court for the Central District of California to dismiss the indictment against the crypto influencer, arguing that the charges are the result of an unconstitutional overreach of government and evidence. deceitful against their client. .
“The accusation must be dismissed. “The charges are unconstitutional: they are based on a tax that itself is a violation of both the 16th Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the 5th Amendment,” the motion states.
‘Purely political’
Ver’s lawyers believe that the accusation brought by the US Department of Justice was “purely political”, which many netizens saw as part of the government’s war against cryptocurrencies.
The legal team added that the Bitcoin influencer case is a perfect example of law enforcement being used to regulate an industry without providing clarity on the rules surrounding the space. This has been the approach of state authorities under the Biden administration.
In April, a US grand jury indicted Ver on eight counts of criminal conduct for allegedly failing to pay nearly $50 million worth of taxes on his sale of Bitcoin in 2017. He was also accused of understating the true value of his Bitcoin holdings. cryptocurrencies in 2014.
A ray of hope
The filing of a motion to dismiss the charges could not come at a better time, as the US government is transitioning to a new administration, which many believed has a more pro-crypto stance than the Biden administration. .
Ver’s lawyers are optimistic that under the administration of incoming US President Donald Trump, their client’s indictment will be dropped. Trump has promised that his administration will take a more favorable approach toward the cryptocurrency industry.
The Ver case has caused quite a stir in the crypto community, which condemned the US Department of Justice’s approach of prioritizing law enforcement over digital assets.
Civil rights attorney Robert Barnes believes the accusation against the crypto influencer is a selective application, adding that the case is a prime example of legal fighting against the crypto industry, “targeting individuals based on political considerations rather than evidence.” clear of irregularities”.
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