'Totally above board!' Dems mock GOP strategist's defense of Trump crypto pardon

A pair of Democrats mocked a GOP strategist's defense of one of President Donald Trump's latest controversial pardons during an interview on CNN.

Trump recently pardoned Changpeng Zhao, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance. Zhao was convicted of money laundering charges under the Biden administration. His company paid more than $4 billion, and Zhao personally paid a $50 million settlement as part of the conviction.

Trump was asked about Zhao's pardon on CBS News' "60 Minutes" on Sunday, where he claimed not to know Zhao. Some analysts have found those claims hard to believe because Binance invested $2 billion in World Liberty Financial, the Trump family's cryptocurrency business, and Zhao had hired lobbyists to persuade Trump to grant him a pardon.

GOP strategist Scott Jennings defended the pardon on CNN's "NewsNight with Abby Phillip" on Monday. Jennings argued that Trump likely didn't "personally" know Zhao.

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) and David Hogg, president of Leaders We Deserve, mocked Jennings' defense.

"It's totally above board, obviously!" Hogg interjected.

"There's nothing to see here, guys," Moskowitz said. "'A' for effort."