Kash Patel Appointment Gives New Hope to Chris Emms

11 March 2025

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
11 March 2025

KASH PATEL APPOINTMENT GIVES NEW HOPE TO CHRIS EMMS, A BRITISH CITIZEN TARGETED BY THE FBI DURING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S WAR AGAINST CRYPTOCURRENCY.

LONDON – Due Process International has called upon FBI Director Kash Patel to immediately review the unjust and politically motivated indictment against British citizen and cryptocurrency expert Christopher Douglas Emms. The indictment, brought forward during the Biden administration’s war against cryptocurrency, represents yet another example of prosecutorial overreach and legal intimidation by the U.S. Department of Justice.

In a formal letter addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel, Due Process International’s CEO, Radha Stirling, highlights the grave concerns surrounding the case, including jurisdictional overreach, coercion attempts, and the weaponization of U.S. legal authority against foreign nationals, something that would never be accepted by the US in reverse.

Chris Emms, a British citizen and blockchain expert, was indicted under the U.S. International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) in 2022 for allegedly conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions on North Korea. The indictment stems from his participation in a 2019 Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference, where he alleged he discussed publicly available, open-source information on blockchain technology—material that can be found on Google’s front page.

The case against Emms is not only baseless but also politically driven. At the time of the conference, President Trump was actively engaging in diplomatic talks with North Korea, fostering communication and economic discussions. No UK or international laws were broken, and before travelling, Emms checked with the British embassy to ensure compliance with relevant regulations. Stirling has criticised the move along with then Member of Parliament, Crispin Blunt, as an attack on the sovereignty of the United Kingdom. “British citizens with no connection to the US should not be required to know or to follow American laws. How would America feel if China suddenly demanded foreigners abide by their laws even when they are not Chinese and not in China. It’s absolutely ridiculous and leaves the door open for serious and politically motivated abuse against rivals by the US. Cryptocurrency experts may feel safe under the new US administration but should never be unsafe and we urge Republicans to review these outdated laws that are being weaponized by the SDNY and DOJ”.

· Jurisdictional Overreach: Chris Emms is not a US person, was not living in the US and was not required to follow US law any more than any other British citizen. The U.S. has no legal authority to prosecute a British national for actions that occurred outside U.S. territory, particularly when no American laws were violated by UK legal standards. No foreign national has ever been successfully convicted at trial under IEEPA and IEEPA specifically states it does not apply to non-US persons. The corrupt SDNY has tried to tie Chris to IEEPA by making him responsible for another US citizen who attended the conference.

· Saudi Arabia Rejected U.S. Extradition Request despite Biden’s best diplomatic efforts: Emms was detained in Saudi Arabia under U.S. pressure for months, yet Saudi authorities denied Washington’s politically motivated request for extradition, recognising the lack of merit in the case.

· FBI Coercion Attempts: The FBI attempted to pressure Emms into providing false testimony against other figures in the cryptocurrency industry in exchange for leniency. He refused to lie, and in retaliation, the FBI escalated their pursuit, adding him to the "Most Wanted" list and to Interpol.

· False Conspiracy Allegations: Emms is being wrongfully linked to Virgil Griffith, a U.S. citizen who also attended the Pyongyang conference. The indictment falsely claims conspiracy simply because they were at the same event. This was a tactic to pressure Emms into providing false testimony against other high-value cryptocurrency targets.

· SDNY Prosecutors: Kimberly J. Ravener and Kyle A. Wirshba, the same Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) who have pursued controversial January 6 prosecutions, were responsible for liaising with Emms and orchestrating the indictment. They have been cited for withholding exculpatory evidence, raising serious concerns about their credibility.

This indictment is not about justice or national security; it is an attempt to silence, control, and intimidate individuals within the cryptocurrency space who refused to comply with the Biden administration’s agenda. The U.S. is setting a dangerous precedent by using its legal system as a tool of global enforcement, punishing foreign nationals for actions that are not illegal in their home countries.

Radha Stirling, CEO of Due Process International, stated:

“This is yet another example of the U.S. weaponizing its justice system to control financial independence and intimidate those who refuse to bow to its economic policies. The indictment against Chris Emms is an abuse of process, an attack on fundamental freedoms, and a blatant attempt to manufacture cooperation through coercion. If this was a genuine legal matter, the UK or Saudi Arabia would have taken action themselves, but they have not. The FBI must immediately review this baseless case.”

Due Process International is urging Director Kash Patel and the FBI to conduct an immediate review of the indictment and the political motivations behind this case.

For further details, a press pack has been made available.

Radha Stirling