U.S. Lawmakers Demand Release of Detained Binance Exec in Nigeria

U.S. Representatives French Hill and Chrissy Houlahan visited Tigran Gambaryan, Binance's head of crime compliance, in a Nigerian prison. Gambaryan has been detained since February, facing money-laundering charges. Hill, who described Gambaryan's detention as wrongful, stated that he suffers from malaria and double pneumonia and has been denied adequate medical care in the Kuje prison, known for housing members of the Boko Haram terrorist group. Hill called for Gambaryan's humanitarian release, citing the prison's horrible conditions, the executive's innocence, and his health. He also urged the U.S. embassy to advocate for Gambaryan's release and stressed that the issue is a matter of Americans wrongfully detained abroad. The lawmakers' visit follows a June 4 letter to President Biden requesting Gambaryan's release, and a similar letter sent to Secretary of State Blinken by over 100 former prosecutors. While the trial continues, the case highlights the complexities surrounding crypto regulations and the international legal landscape.