On Friday, a federal judge, Richard Jones of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, once again refused Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao’s request to travel abroad, a decision that comes as he awaits sentencing for criminal charges in the United States. This marks the second occasion on which Zhao has been denied permission to leave the country, with prosecutors arguing that the former Binance executive poses a significant flight risk.
Binance CEO CZ Denied Second Travel Request by U.S. Judge
The sealed ruling, issued on Friday, provides limited information regarding Zhao’s arguments against the repeated efforts by the court to restrict his travel, particularly back to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where his three children and their mother are currently residing. The lack of disclosure raises questions about the specific factors and legal considerations involved in Zhao’s plea for the court’s approval to return to the UAE.
Zhao’s legal troubles stem from his recent guilty plea to a charge of violating the Bank Secrecy Act. Following this plea, he was released on a substantial $175 million personal recognizance bond, coupled with additional financial conditions. Despite these measures, the court appears to maintain concerns about the potential flight risk associated with Zhao, prompting the continued denial of travel permission.
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