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  1. Calendar 2025
    ReportedLobbying feesPolitics & lobbying

    Checkmate Government Relations lobbying revenue, 2025 Copy link

    Checkmate reported more than $21.9 million in federal lobbying revenue in 2025, its first year with a Washington office. That includes $450,000 Binance paid for a month of lobbying on "executive relief" shortly before Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao.

    Paid by Lobbying clients, including Binance

    Bloomberg Government puts the year at about $21.4 million. The firm's 2025 lobbying reports, as since amended, add up to $22.51 million.

    Denies

    Changpeng Zhao and the White House Zhao denied any link between the lobbying and his pardon. The White House said it reviews every pardon request thoroughly. NBC News

    • ReportNOTUS · Trump 2.0 shakes up K Street power balance · 22 Jan 2026
    • ReportBloomberg Government · Lobbying spending splurge rockets Trump-linked firm to the top · 21 Jan 2026 · Archived
    • ReportNBC News · Binance lobbied Trump administration before Changpeng Zhao pardon · 24 Oct 2025 · Archived
    $21.9M
Ches McDowell

Lobbyist; friend of Donald Trump Jr. Founder, Checkmate Government Relations

$34.3M counted by default · 4 line items

Cite this line item

Follow the Grift, “Checkmate Government Relations lobbying revenue, 2025,” line item for Ches McDowell, https://followthegrift.com/items/checkmate-lobbying-2025/ (added 25 Oct 2026; accessed 01 Nov 2026).

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