Marla Maples Joins Calls to Dismiss Charges Against Bitcoin Advocate
Marla Maples, the second ex-wife of U.S. President Donald Trump, has publicly voiced her support for ending the prosecution of Roger Ver, an early Bitcoin advocate known as “Bitcoin Jesus.”
Sharing more re the call to dismiss the prosecution against Roger Ver @PamBondi @elonmusk @realDonaldTrump @Davewarrington https://t.co/BckQwEXBW6
— marla maples (@itsmarlamaples) March 16, 2025
On March 16, Maples shared a post on X highlighting the movement to dismiss the legal case against Ver. She included a video created by an organization backing Ver and tagged Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging them to take action.
“Sharing more regarding the call to dismiss the prosecution against Roger Ver,” Maples wrote.
Roger Ver’s Legal Battle and Allegations
Ver was indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in April 2024 on charges of mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns. Prosecutors allege that Ver concealed the amount of Bitcoin he owned when he renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2014 and defrauded the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of $48 million by failing to report capital gains from Bitcoin sales.
Following the indictment, Ver was arrested in Spain and later released on bail, under the condition that he remains in the country while awaiting potential extradition to the U.S.
In December 2024, Ver moved to dismiss the case, arguing that the charges were unconstitutional and that the IRS’ “exit tax” for renounced U.S. citizens is excessively vague when applied to cryptocurrencies.
Maples’ Involvement and Her Connection to Trump
Maples was Trump’s second wife from 1993 to 1999, following his first marriage to Ivana Trump. She has remained active in philanthropy and advocacy work, supporting various charities and causes.
She also appears to maintain a supportive relationship with Trump. She attended Trump’s 2017 inauguration and, in a July 2024 interview with the London Evening Standard, expressed that she was “open to serving in any way” to support his presidential ambitions.
Her public backing of Roger Ver places her alongside other high-profile figures calling for an end to his prosecution, including Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht, who was serving a double life sentence before Trump granted him a pardon in January 2025.
Trump and Musk’s Response to Ver’s Pardon Request
Ver has directly appealed to Trump for a presidential pardon, claiming he is a victim of “lawfare”—a term used to describe legal actions intended to suppress or punish individuals through prolonged litigation.
Despite this, neither Trump nor the White House has publicly acknowledged Ver’s plea. Meanwhile, Elon Musk, a close ally of Trump and an advocate for government spending cuts, dismissed the idea of a pardon.
In a January post on X, Musk stated: “Ver gave up his U.S. citizenship. No pardon for Ver. Membership has its privileges.”
What’s Next for Roger Ver?
As Ver continues his legal battle, his case remains a significant point of contention in the cryptocurrency community. Supporters argue that his prosecution is politically motivated, while critics maintain that tax evasion charges must be enforced, regardless of an individual’s status or contributions to the crypto space.
With growing calls for a reconsideration of the case, all eyes are on how Trump and his administration will handle Roger Ver’s request for clemency—if they address it at all.
