Ben McKenzie urges Senate to reject crypto CLARITY Act over Trump conflicts

Actor Ben McKenzie, known for his role in "The O.C.," has actively lobbied U.S. senators to oppose the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. He argues that the bill, which would create a federal market structure for digital assets and assign regulatory roles to the SEC and CFTC, risks allowing President Donald Trump and his family to profit from their cryptocurrency holdings. McKenzie joined Senators Chris Murphy, Jeff Merkley and Chris Van Hollen, along with consumer‑rights groups, in a Capitol Hill press conference urging a vote against the legislation unless stronger ethics and consumer‑protection provisions are added.

The CLARITY Act has passed the Senate Banking Committee but still needs 60 votes for floor consideration. Democratic support remains limited, and the bill faces a narrowing window before the Senate’s August recess. Critics, including McKenzie, label the crypto sector a "Ponzi scheme" and contend that the measure lacks sufficient safeguards, making the ethics dispute a pivotal factor in its potential passage.