PANews reported on January 16 that, according to The Block, U.S. Representatives Maxine Waters, Sean Casten, and Brad Sherman sent a letter to Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins on Thursday, requesting an explanation for the agency's suspension of several crypto enforcement cases, including a lawsuit against Tron founder Justin Sun.

In their letter, lawmakers pointed out that since early 2025, the SEC has dropped more than a dozen crypto-related cases, including those against Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken. This coincides with a surge in political donations to the industry, raising concerns about "pay-to-play" schemes. The letter noted that crypto companies donated at least $85 million to President Trump's re-election campaign, while companies whose cases were dropped all donated at least $1 million to Trump's inauguration. They were particularly concerned about the Justin Sun case, arguing that its 11-month suspension signals selective enforcement and the potential influence of political power in pursuing accountability. The lawmakers also issued a separate document retention request, demanding that the SEC provide all communications related to the decision to suspend the Justin Sun case.