On December 6, 2024, political activist and podcast host Charlie Kirk took a stand alongside Roger Ver, a well-known Bitcoin pioneer, to discuss his ongoing legal battle with the U.S. government. Ver, often referred to as “Bitcoin Jesus” for his early and passionate support of Bitcoin, has found himself in a years-long fight over what many view as excessive government overreach.
Ver appeared on Kirk’s show alongside Drew Hernandez and Tracy Thurman, the campaign lead for FreeRogerNow.org , to explain the details of his case. Ver’s silent protest on the show —sitting with tape across his mouth reading “censored”—spoke volumes, as he chose not to speak out of concern that his words might be used against him in court.
The core of the government’s case against Roger Ver revolves around something called an “exit tax.” When someone renounces their U.S. citizenship and moves abroad, they are required to pay taxes on their assets as if they had sold everything the day before leaving the country. This is known as a “constructive hypothetical sale,” and the taxes can be enormous, especially for someone with significant assets like Ver.
Tracy Thurman, speaking on the show, explained that the U.S. government has accused Ver of underpaying these exit taxes—specifically in 2014 and again in 2017. The charge from 2017 is particularly puzzling because, by that time, Ver had already renounced his U.S. citizenship. Why would he owe U.S. taxes if he wasn’t even a U.S. citizen? That’s one of the key questions in this case.
Thurman also pointed out the absurdity of the tax system in Ver’s case. In 2014, when Ver was required to pay the exit tax, his Bitcoin holdings were worth a substantial amount—too much for him to realistically sell all at once without crashing the market.
Thurman compared this to the idea of everyone in the U.S. trying to sell their homes on the same day. If that were to happen, the housing market would collapse. Similarly, if Ver had tried to sell all his Bitcoin at once, it would have been devastating to the market.
This case is not just about taxes—it’s about something larger. Kirk, who has been vocal about government overreach, emphasized how this case represents a broader trend of “lawfare,” where legal systems are weaponized to target and silence critics of the government. Kirk also pointed out that the U.S. President has the power to pardon Ver, and that the incoming Department of Justice could choose to drop the charges altogether.
Kirk expressed his support for Ver’s cause, calling on President-elect Trump to step in and end the case. “A pardon, lifting of charges, whatever it takes, time for a clean slate, and to free Roger,” Kirk said. He also noted that Trump, having experienced similar legal battles himself, understands the pain of being targeted by a legal system used as a political weapon.
