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U.S. Justice Department Allegedly Sells Samourai Case Bitcoin Despite Reserve Order

U.S. Justice Department Allegedly Sells Samourai Case Bitcoin Despite Reserve Order

The sale of Bitcoin seized from Samourai Wallet developers raises concerns over the DOJ’s compliance with Executive Order 14233, which mandates the retention of forfeited Bitcoin in the national strategic reserve.

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Fact Check
The provided sources consistently and strongly support the central claim that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) sold, or is alleged to have sold, Bitcoin seized in the Samourai Wallet case. Reputable financial news outlets like Yahoo Finance, TheStreet, and FXEmpire all report on this event, lending significant credibility to this part of the statement. One source notes that the accusation is supported by on-chain data analysis, which provides a layer of technical evidence for the sale.The second part of the statement, concerning the violation of a "court order," contains a factual inaccuracy. All sources that specify the type of directive that was allegedly violated refer to a "Trump-era executive order" (specifically identified as Executive Order 14233 by one source) related to a strategic reserve. None of the provided sources mention a "court order." Despite this inaccuracy, the overall thrust of the statement is that the DOJ sold assets it was directed to hold. This core accusation is well-supported across all sources. Therefore, the statement is assessed as "likely_true" because the primary action (the sale) and the context (violation of a government hold order) are substantiated by the evidence, even though the specific legal instrument is misidentified.
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Summary

The U.S. Department of Justice has reportedly liquidated $6.36 million worth of Bitcoin seized from Samourai Wallet developers Keonne Rodriguez and William Hill. This sale potentially violates Executive Order 14233, which requires confiscated Bitcoin to be held in the national strategic reserve. The transfer to a Coinbase Prime address has prompted concerns regarding the DOJ’s adherence to federal guidelines, adding to ongoing legal questions surrounding the Samourai case.

Terms & Concepts
  • Executive Order 14233: A U.S. presidential directive mandating that confiscated Bitcoin be held in the national strategic reserve.
  • DOJ (U.S. Department of Justice): The federal agency responsible for enforcing U.S. laws and overseeing criminal prosecutions.
  • Bitcoin: A decentralized digital currency using blockchain technology for peer-to-peer transactions.