Actor Ben McKenzie, known for his role on the TV drama "The OC," has become a vocal critic of cryptocurrency, pushing Senate Democrats on Tuesday to vote down a key regulatory bill over its failure to include ethics provisions targeting President Trump's financial interests in the industry.
McKenzie, who released a documentary last year titled Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, joined several Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill who have opposed the Clarity Act. The legislation, which aims to establish a regulatory framework for digital assets, appears poised for a Senate floor vote in the coming weeks.
"The Clarity Act is meant to provide regulatory clarity on cryptocurrency, and yet it has no ethics provision to prevent or even diminish President Trump’s crypto corruption," McKenzie said at a press conference. He argued that the omission reveals the industry's priorities: "They are perfectly fine enabling Trump’s crypto corruption, so long as they too become filthy rich in the process."
McKenzie's remarks come amid growing scrutiny of Trump's crypto ventures, which financial disclosures show generated roughly $1.2 billion in income for the president last year. The bill, which has been under negotiation for nearly a year, would split oversight between two financial regulators. However, a key sticking point remains the absence of ethics rules limiting elected officials' ability to profit from the sector.
Democrats have long pushed for such provisions, and the bill requires at least seven Democratic votes to pass the Senate. McKenzie directly challenged undecided senators: "You cannot say you oppose Trump’s crypto corruption and then vote to enable that same corruption." He warned that voting for the bill would be remembered, while opposing it would put lawmakers "on the right side of history."
The Clarity Act faces a critical window before the midterm elections, with experts warning the next month may be the last viable opportunity for passage. Trump has actively pushed senators to pass the bill, adding to the political pressure.
Senator Elizabeth Warren has also accused Senate leaders of ignoring ethics concerns as Trump's crypto holdings soar. McKenzie echoed that sentiment, urging Democrats to stand firm: "If you vote against Clarity, you will be on the right side of history. If you vote for Clarity, you can be damn sure we will not forget the truth."
The debate over the Clarity Act underscores broader tensions in Washington over how to regulate the rapidly growing crypto industry while addressing conflicts of interest. With the Senate floor vote looming, the battle lines are drawn, and McKenzie's intervention adds a celebrity-driven spotlight to the legislative fight.
