A popular figure in the cryptocurrency world known as “Bitcoin Jesus” – who has been indicted for a multi-million-dollar tax evasion case – asked a federal court to drop the charges against him. Bitcoin influencer Roger Ver hit back at the Biden administration, accusing the Us government of unconstitutional use of excessive power to cripple the cryptocurrency industry.
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Seeking Case Dismissal
Ver’s legal counsels recently sought the dismissal of all tax evasion cases against the Bitcoin influencer, citing that the US government has overstepped its actions which have gone beyond what is allowed in the constitution.
In February, Bitcoin Jesus was arrested while participating in a crypto conference in Barcelona for allegations of eluding to pay taxes for his BTC sales.
Roger Ver aims to fight back against what he claimed is a politically motivated move against cryptocurrency by tapping the services of lawyers from Steptoe LLP and Kimura London & White.
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 unconstitutional government overreach and misleading evidence against their client.
“The indictment must be dismissed. The charges are unconstitutional: they rely on a tax that is itself a violation of both the 16th Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the 5th Amendment,” the motion stated.
‘Purely Political’
Ver’s lawyers believe that the indictment made by the US Department of Justice was “purely political”, which many netizens saw as part of the government’s war on cryptocurrency.
The legal team added that the case of the Bitcoin influencer is a perfect example of using enforcement to regulate an industry without giving clarity on rules surrounding the space. This has been the approach of state authorities under the Biden administration.
In April, a US grand jury charged Ver with eight counts of criminal conduct for allegedly not paying taxes amounting to almost $50 million for his Bitcoin sale in 2017. He was also charged for under-representing the true value of his crypto holdings in 2014.
A Glimmer Of Hope
The filing of a motion to dismiss the charges couldn’t come at a better time as the US government is on a transition to a new administration, which many believed has a more pro-crypto stance than the Biden administration.
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Ver’s lawyers are optimistic that under the administration of incoming US President Donald Trump, their client’s indictment would be dropped. Trump has pledged that his administration will have a more favorable approach to the cryptocurrency industry.
Ver’s case has caused an uproar from the crypto community who condemned the US justice department’s enforcement-first approach to digital assets.
Civil rights attorney Robert Barnes believed that the indictment against the crypto influencer is selective enforcement, adding that the case is an excellent example of lawfare versus the crypto industry, “targeting individuals based on political considerations rather than clear evidence of wrongdoing.”
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