Marla Maples Joins Call to End Roger Ver's Legal Persecution

Marla Maples, the second ex-wife of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has publicly called for an end to the legal persecution against Roger Ver, an early advocate of Bitcoin. In a March 16 post on X, Maples shared a video created by an organization supporting Ver, tagging prominent figures including Trump, Elon Musk, and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. This action highlights the growing support for Ver, who has been charged with mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns by the Department of Justice.

The charges against Ver stem from allegations that he concealed the amount of Bitcoin he owned when he renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014 and defrauded the Internal Revenue Service out of $48 million by failing to report the gains from selling his Bitcoin holdings. Ver has maintained that he is a victim of "lawfare" and has appealed to Trump for a pardon, although neither Trump nor the White House has publicly acknowledged Ver’s plea.

Maples, who was married to Trump from 1993 to 1999, has a history of involvement in philanthropy and advocacy for various charities and causes. Her support for Ver adds to the list of high-profile figures calling for an end to his prosecution, including Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the online black market Silk Road, who was pardoned by Trump in January.

Ver's legal troubles began in April 2024 when he was arrested in Spain pending his extradition to the U.S. He was later granted bail on the condition that he remain in the country. In December, Ver moved to dismiss the government’s case, arguing that the charges were unconstitutional and that the IRS’ “exit tax” for renounced citizens is “inscrutably vague” when applied to cryptocurrency.

The support from Maples and other high-profile figures underscores the complex interplay between politics, cryptocurrency, and legal proceedings. Ver's case has sparked debates about the fairness of the legal system and the treatment of cryptocurrency holders, particularly those who have renounced their citizenship. The outcome of Ver's legal battle could have significant implications for the broader cryptocurrency community and the regulatory environment surrounding digital assets.