A lobbying firm based in Washington, D.C., has disclosed its pursuit of a presidential pardon for Andean Medjedovic, a Canadian individual wanted in the U.S. and the Netherlands for alleged cryptocurrency-related offenses totaling $65 million US. The documents submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice by JM Burkman & Associates detail their efforts to advocate for Medjedovic in the U.S. legal proceedings and seek a pardon from the President.
The lobbying filings, filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act on February 20, were initially reported by Juno News. Despite attempts by investigative journalists to contact Medjedovic, there was no response from him. Jacob Wohl, a partner at JM Burkman, described Medjedovic as a talented individual, emphasizing his positive attributes.
The accusations outlined in the DOJ indictment assert that Medjedovic leveraged borrowed cryptocurrency to engage in deceptive trading practices, allegedly exploiting vulnerabilities in cryptocurrency platforms to withdraw substantial amounts of investor funds. Contrary to the DOJ’s claims of exploitation, the filed documents and Wohl deny these allegations, contending that the trading activities were legitimate and within the established platform rules.
According to JM Burkman, Medjedovic’s actions were in line with permissible trading practices on the cryptocurrency platforms, echoing the concept that adherence to a program’s code defines acceptable behavior. Toronto lawyer Benjamin Bathgate, representing one of Medjedovic’s purported victims in Ontario, characterizes the conduct as market manipulation, expressing concerns about the potential risks to investors if such practices go unchecked.
The ongoing legal disputes surrounding Medjedovic involve both civil and criminal proceedings, with JM Burkman emphasizing that the matters should be resolved in civil court rather than criminal proceedings. The firm disclosed that Medjedovic has paid them a $300,000 US retainer, emphasizing that the funds are not illicitly obtained. Notably, Wohl, a partner at JM Burkman, has faced legal issues in the past, including charges related to telecommunications fraud and securities fraud.
JM Burkman has initiated outreach to U.S. lawmakers to support Medjedovic’s cause, aiming to raise awareness and potentially have the Justice Department drop the charges or secure a presidential pardon for Medjedovic. The ultimate decision regarding a pardon rests with the President of the United States.