Episodes

  • Majority Leader Scalise on Trump's Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: "I want to get more details on this, obviously”

    Majority Leader Scalise on Trump's Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: "I want to get more details on this, obviously”
    Mar 9 2025

    Who?

    Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) — US House Majority Leader

    LISTEN: Laslo & Scalise

    Ask a Pol asks:

    What are your thoughts on this new Strategic Crypto Reserve?

    Key Scalise

    “I’ve been very supportive of the crypto industry,” Majority Leader Steve Scalise exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “I want to get more details on this, obviously.”

    ICYMI — Hagerty’s new stablecoin bill

    Caught our ear:

    “Let’s let them follow the same rules, you know, be a part of the same economic success as every other part of the banking industry,” Scalise tells us.

    Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), slightly edited for clarity.

    TRANSCRIPT: Majority Leader Steve Scalise

    SCENE: After passing by a handful of congressional reporters staking out Speaker Mike Johnson’s office, Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo enters the Old House Chamber where he finds Majority Leader Scalise talking to a group of his constituents.

    Laslo waits until Scalise finishes shaking hands and posing for photos and then proceeds to get this exclusive.

    Matt Laslo: “Hey, I’ve never asked you…”

    Scalise’s security detail is eyeing Laslo hard.

    Steve Scalise: “Walk with me?”

    ML: “Yeah.”

    Scalise, his security detail and Laslo start traversing a crowd of tourists.

    ML: “What are your thoughts on the Strategic Crypto Reserve?”

    SS: “Yeah, I’m just getting details of it.”

    ML: “Yeah?”

    SS: “Obviously, I’ve been very supportive of the crypto industry, and, you know, the Biden Administration had some very anti-crypto policies to try to make it harder. I mean this is a new form of…”

    Scalise clears his throat as his entourage encounters a large group of Capitol visitors as he makes his way to Speaker Johnson’s office.

    What should we ask lawmakers this week? Let us know!

    SS: “…of asset allocation...”

    ML: “Ah-huh?”

    SS: “…that we ought to be open to, and we in Congress have moved a number of bills now to open up the crypto industry and kinda bring it into the mainstream. I want to get more details on this, obviously.”

    ML: “Yeah?”

    SS: “But President Trump’s been a very strong supportive of the crypto industry as well. So, let’s let them follow the same rules, you know, be a part of the same economic success as every other part of the banking industry.”

    Scalise and his security detail jet into the Speaker’s office.

    ML: “Preciate ya!”

    Nicolae Viorel Butler contributed to this report.

    Content posted at AskaPolcrypto.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.



    Get full access to Ask a Pol crypto at www.askapolcrypto.com/subscribe
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    2 mins
  • Senate Ag. Chair Boozman says the White House can't go it alone on crypto regs

    Senate Ag. Chair Boozman says the White House can't go it alone on crypto regs
    Feb 27 2025
    Who?Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) — Chair, Senate Agriculture Committee LISTEN: Laslo & BoozmanAsk a Pol asks:Been curious since your crypto press conference, what do you see as the path forward — can the White House go digital currency regulations alone? Key Boozman:“It’s going to take both working together,” Sen. John Boozman exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “There’s definitely a need for legislation. Right now’s the wild west.”ICYMI — Feb. Crypto Presser: Sens. Boozman & Tim Scott w/ David Sacks and Reps. French Hill & Glen ThompsonSource: C-SPAN (but their embed code wasn’t working…) Security or commodity? With the new SEC — Securities and Exchange Commission — actions, it seems like it’s going more to the securities or is there still a commodities argument? “Some of it is and some of it isn’t,” Boozman says. “That’s the big thing, establishing the definitions as to what’s a commodity, what’s a security. One would fall under the SEC and the other one would fall under the CTFC [Commodity Futures Trading Commission]. Some of them are actually both. It’s a little bit hard to understand at times.”Ask a Pol’s FREEE! Sign up to get our latest before your competitors do… ICYMI — Hagerty: state role key to stablecoin bill successCaught our ear:“We, in the near future, will be meeting, just as an informal group,” Boozman tells us. Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Sen. John Boozman SCENE: Sen. Boozman and an older aide — possibly his chief of staff — is heading to an early morning meeting of Republican committee chairs via the underground tunnel connecting Senate Office Buildings to the US Capitol when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo grabs him for this quick exclusive crypto chat. Matt Laslo: “Morning sir.” John Boozman: “Hey.” ML: “I was curious, I haven’t talked to you since your press conference last week on crypto. What do you see as the path forward?” JB: “Well, I think that was a good start…” Senate tram bell dings. JB: “…you know, getting us all together and making a commitment that we do get started. We, in the near future, will be meeting, just as an informal group. But Sen. Scott’s moving forward on their [Banking] Committee. And our committee, we restructured so crypto would have a greater influence on one of our subcommittees, and I’ve got people on that subcommittee that are involved — are interested in crypto, so I think the biggest thing that we got to do is just get enough people in government confirmed…” Another senator rings the bell to call one of the older underground trams, which are still run by humans. JB: “…that there’s leadership in place that we can work with so we can go forward and eventually.” Enjoy our independent crypto journalism? Consider supporting us!We’re on Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer!ML: “When the dust settles…”Boozman whispers to his aide. ML: “…is it still going to be viewed as a commodity or it seems like it’s going more to the securities?” JB: “Some of it — some of it is and some of it isn’t. And that’s the big thing, establishing the definitions as to what’s a commodity, what’s a security. One would fall under the SEC and the other one would fall under the CTFC. Some of them are actually both. It’s a little bit hard to understand at times.”ML: “Yeah?” JB: “So…” ML: “And is that why it’s good that you guys are now working kinda in tandem with Senate Banking and the House?” JB: “Well, and our Democrat colleagues are also interested, and so I think it’s lining up that — people realize on both sides of the aisle, the industry realizes — that the [seamers?] need protection, the industry needs to be regulated, in the sense that will allow it to continue to grow and we won’t loose it overseas.”ML: “And how much action is needed from Congress — or how much can the administration do without you all? Or is that what you’re figuring out?”JB: “Yes. It’s going to take — it’s going to take both working together. There’s definitely a need for legislation. Right now it’s the wild west.” Boozman and his aide look like they have a meeting to attend, so Laslo ushers them to the escalator leading into the Capitol.ML: “I know you got a day job. ‘Preciate ya!” Nicolae Viorel Butler contributed to this report. Content posted at AskaPolcrypto.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.What should we ask lawmakers this week? Let us know! Get full access to Ask a Pol crypto at www.askapolcrypto.com/subscribe
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    3 mins
  • EXCLUSIVE — Sen. Hagerty says state component of stablecoin bill key: "It’s really helped us broaden the support for it”

    EXCLUSIVE — Sen. Hagerty says state component of stablecoin bill key: "It’s really helped us broaden the support for it”
    Feb 14 2025
    Who?Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) — Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee What? Hagerty’s new bipartisan stablecoin measure: Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act LISTEN: Laslo & HagertyAsk a Pol asks:Congrats on dropping the first stablecoin bill in this Congress. When it comes to that new measure, how do you see a path forward on this? Key Hagerty:“I think it’s pretty simple. We’re building more bipartisan support for the bill right now here in the Senate. I’ve talked with [House Financial Services Committee Chair] French Hill and his team in the House. I think we’re gonna come together. We’re close already” Sen. Hagerty exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “So I feel very good we can get it done within the first 100 days. The White House loves it, [Trump’s AI and Crypto Czar] David Sacks has been very positive on it, so I think we’ve got really good momentum right now.”Subscribe for FREE to get our latest first! Is your measure’s new state component key? “I think that’s really helped us get — in terms of industry support, it’s really helped us broaden the support for it,” Hagerty says. “Absolutely. We needed a state component to make it all work.” ICYMI — America’s first Crypto Congress in full gearCaught our ear:“David Sacks and I are friends from before,” Hagerty tells us. “We’re working well together on this, and our staffs are working well together.” Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT I: Sen. Hagerty (2-12-2025)SCENE: Sen. Bill Hagerty’s showing a visitor around the Capitol in the middle of a hectic Senate vote, so Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo gives them space but also slides in for a quick chat. Matt Laslo: “I wanted to say congrats on dropping the first stablecoin bill in this Congress.”Hagerty laughs. Bill Hagerty: “Oh yeah, I feel very good about getting it done.” ML: “What do you — do you think splitting the difference, or solving the problem between states and feds is key?”BH: “Yes. Yeah, absolutely. We needed a state component to make it all work.” ML: “And do you think that’s gonna garner the support you need?”BH: “Yeah, I do.”ML: “I’ll be watching. Thank you!” Please, support our independent crypto journalism. Find us Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer!TRANSCRIPT II: Sen. Hagerty (2-13-2025)SCENE: The following day, Laslo sees Sen. Hagerty and an aide heading to a Senate vote when he circles back on their previous mini-interview. Matt Laslo: “Today you don’t have a guest.”Laslo laughs. Bill Hagerty: “How are you doing?”ML: “I felt bad interrupting you with your guest yesterday. But when it comes to your stablecoin measure, how do you see a path forward on this?” BH: “I think it’s pretty simple. We’re building more bipartisan support for the bill right now here in the Senate. I’ve talked with French Hill and his team in the House. I think we’re gonna come together. We’re close already. So I feel very good we can get it done within the first 100 days. The White House loves it, David Sacks has been very positive on it so I think we’ve got really good momentum right now.”ML: “And how essential is it, like…” Laslo slides into the elevator. ML: “I’ll go up with you, if you don’t mind…” ML: “…how essential is it that Congress, because we’ve seen the administration doing a lot and changes at the SEC…?” BH: “The administration — the administration wants to work with us, and I think that’s a critical piece of it. David Sacks and I are friends from before.” ML: “Yeah? Nice.”BH: “We’re working well together on this, and our staffs are working well together.”ML: “We’re getting that bill passed is still essential?”BH: “Uh-huh. I think it’s gonna be — what it’s going to do is provide much needed certainty in the market, and I think it sends an important signal to those as well: We’re going to be dealing responsibly with, you know, in the crypto arena.” ML: “Is that state component the key? Do you think that’s why?”BH: “I think that’s really helped us get — in terms of industry support, it’s really helped us broaden the support for it.”ML: “Preciate ya.”Hagerty enters the Senate chamber to vote. Nicolae Viorel Butler contributed to this article.What should we ask lawmakers this week? Let us know!Content posted at AskaPolcrypto.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us. Get full access to Ask a Pol crypto at www.askapolcrypto.com/subscribe
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    3 mins
  • Rep. Maxine Waters on crypto: "Let the big billionaires fight it out"

    Rep. Maxine Waters on crypto: "Let the big billionaires fight it out"
    Feb 12 2025

    Who?

    Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) — Ranking Member, House Financial Services Committee

    LISTEN: Laslo & Waters

    Ask a Pol asks:

    I was following that crypto, de-banking hearing — what do you make of this new narrative from the GOP?

    Key Waters:

    “Well, like I said, I wasn’t gonna even deal with it, because they have refused banking to poor people and to working people,” House Financial Services Committee Ranking Member Maxine Waters told Ask a Pol.

    Ask a Pol’s FREE! Subscribe to get our latest crypto exclusives from the US Capitol first.

    Caught our ear:

    “Let the big billionaires fight it out,” Waters told us.

    ICYMI — the fight for crypto fairness is real…

    Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), slightly edited for clarity.

    TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Maxine Waters

    SCENE: After leaving a de-banking hearing, Rep. Maxine Waters is hopping an underground tram from the US House Office Buildings to the Capitol when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo snags this brief exchange with her.

    Matt Laslo: “You’re the one I’m looking for!”

    Maxine Waters: “How you doing?”

    ML: “How are you ma’am?”

    MW: “How are you?”

    What should we ask lawmakers next? Let us know!

    ML: “Living the dream.”

    MW: “Living the dream?”

    ML: “I was following that crypto hearing. How do you — what do you make of this new narrative?”

    MW: “Well, like I said, I wasn’t gonna even deal with it, because they have refused banking to poor people and to working people. Let the big billionaires fight it out.”

    Maxine Waters gets enters tram.

    ML: “Mind if I get on with you?”

    Waters wasn’t interested in a long interview.

    MW: “Let the big billionaires fight it out.”

    Support our independent journalism!

    Find us on Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer.

    ML: “Yeah?”

    MW: “Not me. I ain’t in it.”

    Rep. Kweisi Mfume: “And I’m with Maxine!”

    Laslo turns to a smiling Rep. Mfume who was seated in another section of the tram.

    ML: “I know, right? You’re a wise man!”

    Laslo turns back to Waters.

    ML: “Thank you, ma’am.”

    Nicolae Viorel Butler contributed to this report.

    Content posted at AskaPolcrypto.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us.



    Get full access to Ask a Pol crypto at www.askapolcrypto.com/subscribe
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    1 min
  • GOP wants to restore "partnership type relationship between regulators & businesses" on crypto

    GOP wants to restore "partnership type relationship between regulators & businesses" on crypto
    Feb 10 2025
    Who?Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) — House Financial Services Committee LISTEN: Laslo & LoudermilkAsk a Pol asks:How’d that crypto — de-banking, technically — hearing go?Key Loudermilk:“For while I was in there, it was very interesting. I mean, it’s just a different version of Chokepoint that we saw before, but this time it’s geared toward innovation,” Rep. Barry Loudermilk exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “My biggest issue is what should be a partnership type relationship between regulators and businesses has really turned into an adversarial relationship, and that’s the greater concern I think most everyone has.” Subscribe for FREEE so our latest exclusives hit your inbox first! VIP options available, because this is America dammit… Like many, Loudermilk’s ticked at the SEC “Regulators were not even staying within their lanes. So SEC — whom the Supreme Court has even said, you don’t have anything to do with crypto unless it’s an exchange — they’re regulating crypto,” Loudermilk says. “We got to give immediate relief, and then we may look at it to put some guardrails legislatively.” ICYMI — all systems go...in the House, at least… Caught our ear:“It’s not only hard to plan,” Loudermilk tells us, “but you don’t know at one point, whether you’re in compliance or not, whether you’re gonna be sued the next day or you’re going to end up in jail.” Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Barry LoudermilkSCENE: Rep. Barry Loudermilk — who just left a House de-banking hearing — is on his way to vote on the floor of the House of Representatives when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo runs into him in the Capitol’s basement before proceeding to hitch a ride on the Members Only elevator with the congressman. What should we ask lawmakers next? Let us know!Matt Laslo: “Hey. How are you?”Barry Loudermilk: “Good. How you been?” ML: “Not bad. How’d that — how’d that crypto hearing go? Or, I guess de-banking, but…” BL: “Uhm, yeah. For while I was in there, it was very interesting. I mean, it’s just a different version of Chokepoint that we saw before, but this time it was, it’s geared toward innovation. My biggest issue is what should be a partnership type relationship between regulators and businesses has really turned into an adversarial relationship.” ML: “Yeah?”BL: “And that’s the greater concern I think most everyone has.” Loudermilk and Laslo enter an elevator packed with House members heading to vote. ML: “Do you think that changes overnight with the new administration? Or do you think legislation might be necessary?” We can’t do independent crypto journalism in Washington without you.Find us on Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer!BL: “Well, that is — it can change. We may need to look at it legislatively so with the next administration that comes in, you don’t swing the pendulum the other way, and that’s one of the things that really hurts a lot of businesses is these sudden changes.”The elevator opens and everyone starts flooding out. BL: “Sudden swings in the regulatory environment they can’t plan for.”ML: “Yeah?”BL: “Because, you know, every four years, you free up certain regulations, and what we saw with the Biden administration is, when they came back, they came back on steroids.”ML: “Yeah?” BL: “And it was — regulators were not even staying within their lanes. So SEC — whom the Supreme Court has even said, you don’t have anything to do with crypto unless it’s an exchange — they’re regulating crypto. And so that’s, we’ve got to — we got to give immediate relief, and then we may look at it to put some guardrails legislatively.” ML: “Because if you’re a crypto firm now — like you guys heard in testimony — you’re suffering from whiplash. It’s just night and day.” BL: “That’s right. Yeah. And it’s difficult. It’s not only hard to plan, but you don’t know at one point, whether you’re in compliance or not, whether you’re gonna be sued the next day or you’re going to end up in jail.” ML: “Yeah?” Loudermilk’s now at one of the entrances to the House floor… BL: “You know., so...”ML: “Yup. Appreciate ya.” The congressman’s heading in to vote. BL: “Alright.” Nicolae Viorel Butler contributed to this report.Content posted at AskaPolcrypto.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us. Get full access to Ask a Pol crypto at www.askapolcrypto.com/subscribe
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    3 mins
  • EXCLUSIVE — Rep. Andy Barr: new Fair Access bill aimed at "non-discrimination" for crypto

    EXCLUSIVE — Rep. Andy Barr: new Fair Access bill aimed at "non-discrimination" for crypto
    Feb 7 2025
    Who?Rep. Andy Bar (R-KY) — Chair, Subcommittee on Financial Institutions & Monetary PolicyLISTEN: Laslo & BarrAsk a Pol asks:Is your legislation needed because it’s just been a sea change from the last administration to this one? Or is it needed as a buffer in case there’s a future Dem. president?Key Barr:“Well, it’s needed for that reason, because we want to make sure that credit worthy borrowers are not discriminated against in broad categories just because of politics. We want non-discrimination,” Barr exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “Beyond that, now, a lot of the banks are asking for national preemption, because they want uniformity. You’re seeing these efforts in red states to do their own fair access laws, but in blue states, they’re actually actively, you know, they’re contemplating laws that would actually require banks to discriminate against certain industries.”Subscribe for FREE & get our latest exclusives from the US Capitol first! Caught our ear:“We just filed it this week,” Barr tells us. ICYMI — America’s first Crypto Congress is in full gearBelow find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Rep. Andy Barr SCENE: Rep. Andy Barr’s just left the floor of the US House of Representatives during a vote so he can greet some constituents when Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo snags him for a quick interview… Matt Laslo: “You have the bill with [Sen. Kevin] Cramer?” Andy Barr: “Cramer. We just filed it this week.” ML: “Oh yeah?” AB: “And, you know, there was an Oversight [Committee] hearing on it today.”ML: “Oh, I was listening to it and the one from yesterday.” AB: “Ah, okay. We filed it…”ML: “That’s my question: Is your legislation needed because it’s just been a sea change from the last administration to this one? Or is it needed as a buffer in case there’s a future Dem. president?” AB: “Well, it’s needed for that reason, because we want to make sure that credit worthy borrowers are not discriminated against in broad categories just because of politics or their — you know, we want non-discrimination.” ML: “Yeah?” AB: “But, beyond that, now, a lot of the banks are asking for national preemption, because they want uniformity. You’re seeing these efforts in red states to do their own fair access laws, but in blue states, they’re actually actively, you know, they’re contemplating laws that would actually require banks to discriminate against certain industries.”ML: “Ahuh?” Support our independent journalism! Find us on Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer!AB: “So, you’d have conflicting — especially for a national bank — conflicting rules, so that they actually want one simple, uniform, fair access standard.” ML: “Interesting. The question is, where’s Cali on that?”AB: “What California?”ML: “Because that’s what happened with the children’s privacy act, is that California preemption, they had something real stout.” AB: “They had that on data privacy.” ML: “Yeah.” AB: “Exactly.” ML: “Yeah?” AB: “Yeah.”ML: “When it comes to crypto, do you think this legislation’s needed for the crypto industry…?”AB: “It is.” ML: “…or just broadly?” AB: “It’s definitely — the crypto industry has become disrupted. It used to be fossil energy industry, now — and they’re still interested in it — but now it’s crypto.” Barr’s standing in the hall outside the room where his staffer’s waiting with his constituents…ML: “Yeah?”AB: “Okay.” ML: “I know you gotta go.” AB: “See ya.” ML: “Thank you, sir.” Nicolae Viorel Butler contributed to this report.What should we ask lawmakers this week? Let us know! Content posted at AskaPolcrypto.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us. Get full access to Ask a Pol crypto at www.askapolcrypto.com/subscribe
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    3 mins
  • Elizabeth Warren: regs needed to "reduce the use of crypto by terrorists and drug traffickers"

    Elizabeth Warren: regs needed to "reduce the use of crypto by terrorists and drug traffickers"
    Feb 1 2025
    Who?Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) — Senate Banking & Finance CommitteesLISTEN: Laslo & WarrenAsk a Pol asks:What do you think about the incoming Trump administration’s new tone on crypto?Key Warren:“I keep wondering when someone's going to explain what crypto rules they plan to put in place to reduce the use of crypto by terrorists and drug traffickers,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “So far, I'm just not hearing anything.”ICYMI — Crypto regulation has been in motion in 2024Caught our ear:“I don't have any problem with people who want to buy and sell crypto,” Warren tells us. “But putting in a handful of rules that suggest to the American people that trading crypto is safe at the same time that defrauding people is still easy, creates a real problem.”Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Elizabeth WarrenSCENE: Ask a Pol’s Matt Laslo runs into Sen. Warren in the basement of the US Capitol before proceeding to hop on her elevator as she heads to the Senate floor to vote. Matt Laslo: “Hey, ma’am.”Elizabeth Warren: “How you doing?”ML: “Curious your thoughts on this new tone on crypto from the incoming administration?”EW: “Well, I keep wondering when someone's going to explain what crypto rules they plan to put in place to reduce the use of crypto by terrorists and drug traffickers.”ML: “Yeah?” EW: “So far, I'm just not hearing anything.”ML: “And are you — I mean, how were you and what can you do to change that conversation? Because it seems like the Trumps are now invested and all-in, seemingly.”EW: “I don't have any problem with people who want to buy and sell crypto.”ML: “Yeah?” EW: “And putting rules in place that give Americans more confidence when they do that can be a good idea, so long as those rules are meaningful. But putting in a handful of rules that suggest to the American people that trading crypto is safe at the same time that defrauding people is still easy, creates a real problem.”Support our independent journalism, please! Find us on Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer!ML: “You probably missed it, but 60 Minutes had a segment on crypto?”EW: “No, I didn't. I'll have to look.”ICYMI — Sen. Lummis begs to differ with Ms. WarrenML: “Well it’s interesting, it looked back at the election and they were kind of flexing, and now they're like, ‘Hey, we got $100 million going into the midterms’ that they're already kind of holding over lawmakers. EW: “Yep, I gotta —ML: “But they had seemed to…”EW: “I gotta go.”Warner darts for the Senate floor. Bloomberg reporter: “Is there anything you want to…”Warren breezed past him and entered the Senate chamber. Andrey Beregovskiy contributed to this report. What should we ask lawmakers this week? Let us know!Content posted at AskaPolcrypto.com is copyrighted. Use our original content to move the story forward. And, please, link to us. Get full access to Ask a Pol crypto at www.askapolcrypto.com/subscribe
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    3 mins
  • "It was the right thing to do," Sen. Lummis says of Trump's pardon of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht

    "It was the right thing to do," Sen. Lummis says of Trump's pardon of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht
    Jan 24 2025
    Who?Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) — Senate Banking and Commerce Committees LISTEN: Laslo & LummisAsk a Pol asks:What do you make of President Donald Trump's pardon of Silk Road founder Ross William Ulbricht? Key Lummis:“The more I learned about it, the more I think it was the right thing to do,” Sen. Cynthia Lummis exclusively tells Ask a Pol. “This is one where the punishment truly didn't fit the crime, and so I think this was the right thing to do. And I've never met him — I've met his mother; very nice woman, very — she's not in denial. I mean, she knows that her son was dealing drugs using the Bitcoin blockchain. But two life sentences for — it just seems wrong.” ICYMI — Lummis shares her optimism for new crypto-friendly CongressCaught our ear:“I think that the people who are being appointed reflect President Trump's less — he's not hostile,” Lummis tells us. “And I'm not saying he's wildly pro-digital assets, but he's not hostile.”Below find a rough transcript of Ask a Pol’s exclusive interview with Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), slightly edited for clarity.TRANSCRIPT: Sen. Cynthia LummisSCENE: Initially, Ask a Pol bumps into Sen. Cynthia Lummis outside the Senate chamber, and we ask our main question. She tells us she’s still gotta vote and to hold tight. After voting, Sen. Lummis approaches us and immediately jumps into answering our question. Cynthia Lummis: “You know, the more I learned about it, the more I think it was the right thing to do. I did not realize that — although this Ross [Ulbricht], I forget his last name…”Matt Laslo: “Yeah, it’s hard to pronounce.”CL: “…Ross — or Russ? — was clearly dealing drugs on the Bitcoin blockchain or using it. You know, clearly he deserved to be prosecuted, and he was guilty. But he got two life sentences. Two of the FBI agents that investigated him stole some of that Bitcoin.”ML: “Really?”CL: “Yeah. And then another person who was involved in that drug dealing didn't do any time in jail. Something — this is one where the punishment truly didn't fit the crime, and so I think this was the right thing to do. And I've never met him — I've met his mother. I've met his mother. Yeah, very nice woman, very — she's not in denial. I mean, she knows that her son was dealing drugs using the Bitcoin blockchain. But two life sentences for — it just seems wrong.”ML: “Some of your colleagues say there was child sex trafficking and murder for hire stuff, at least going on on this site, not necessarily tied to him, but…?”CL: “Yeah, I don't know about that. I don't know, I don't know if he was involved in that. But when you look at other people that were in the orbit of that, you know, criminal enterprise, it just seemed like the sentence was crazy, and he has served, what, ten years or so.”ML: “Yeah? Maybe even more…”*CORRECTION: He was convicted in 2015. CL: “Yeah.”ML: (inaudible) CL: “Yeah, to me that this is commuting it to time served, is that what the president did?”ML: “I believe so.”NOPE: “…full and unconditional pardon…”CL: “Yeah.ML: “Busy week, ma'am.”CL: “Well, I know. These executive orders have been coming right now. And so I don't know all the details, but that's what I know. So I'm just comfortable with what — I am comfortable with what he did, the president.” ML: “What do you think about the new SEC regulatory meetings, or whatever it is. It’s in my notes. So I can't read my notes. Their new regulatory crypto task force.”CL: “Yeah, I'm excited about it. [Commissioner] Hester [“crypto mom”] Peirce, who is at the SEC, is very knowledgeable about digital assets, and so I think she'll be — I think she'll be involved in shaping it. I think she'll be able to go through and look at pending agency guidance, pending rules, pending lawsuits and be able to sort out what's very legitimate and what is of concern. And by legitimate, I mean, would this case have been brought if it didn't involve cryptocurrency or digital assets, and if the answer’s, ‘Yeah, it would have been brought regardless,’ it's probably a legitimate case. But if a case is being brought or a rule is being drafted only to apply to this one asset, it looks kinda punitive, and Hester will be able to cut through that.”ML: “Do you think that would be a sea change, or is it part of the bigger — you still need a new head of the SEC and stuff like that?”Every bit helps!Support our independent crypto journalism by finding us on Venmo, PayPal, Cash App — or just buy us a beer!CL: “Yeah, when [Trump’s head of SEC nominee] Paul Atkins comes in and is confirmed, he also is knowledgeable about digital assets. Quite frankly, [former SEC chair] Gary Gensler was knowledgeable. The problem was, he was — that whole administration was hostile towards digital assets: the White House, the FDIC, Treasury, the Fed, the bank supervision people at the Fed, the bank compliance ...
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