The CLARITY Act, described by its supporters as one of the most significant pieces of crypto legislation in U.S. history, is facing a political obstacle that critics say is unrelated to the substance of the bill.

Anthony Scaramucci, the former White House communications director, warned that Democrats could vote against the Bitcoin CLARITY Act because of opposition to President Donald Trump. According to Scaramucci, the issue is not the bill’s policy framework but the political implications of allowing Trump to claim a legislative victory.

“They will do everything they can to block it because he wants it,” Scaramucci said. “When they get back in power they’ll pull a Gensler and it will be very, very bad for the industry.”

Scaramucci estimated the bill’s chances of passage at roughly 40%. His warning framed the legislation as being at risk from partisan calculations rather than unresolved policy disputes.

John Deaton Responds to Scaramucci’s Warning

John E. Deaton, the pro-XRP lawyer who represented 75,000 XRP holders as amicus counsel in the SEC case, responded to Scaramucci’s comments and said he agreed with the assessment.

Deaton wrote: “The Democrats don’t want to give Trump a win. Period. It’s utter bullshit to claim their opposition is over ethics.”

He also emphasized that his position was not based on support for Trump, writing: “Everyone knows I’m not a Trump guy. But I love my country.”

. @Scaramucci is 100% correct. The Democrats don’t want to give Trump a win. Period. It’s utter bullshit to claim their opposition is over ethics. Everyone knows I’m not a Trump guy. But I love my country. They simply hate Trump more than they love America. And it’s both tragic… — John E Deaton (@JohnEDeaton1) July 27, 2026

Deaton’s conclusion was direct: “They simply hate Trump more than they love America. And it’s both tragic and pathetic.”

Deaton said Trump has already made $1.4 billion from crypto without the CLARITY Act and argued that Trump would continue to make money from crypto whether or not the bill becomes law. In his view, opposition to the measure is not primarily about ethics or policy, but about denying Trump a legislative win ahead of the midterm elections.

Status of the CLARITY Act

Scaramucci’s estimate of a roughly 40% chance of passage marked a shift from the optimism that had developed around the bill. The CLARITY Act passed the Senate Banking Committee in May and has been on the Senate calendar since June. That status means the bill has cleared a key committee step but still requires Senate floor action before it can move forward. The ethics provision had been viewed as the last major hurdle, and Trump agreed to it.

The remaining challenge, according to the comments from Scaramucci and Deaton, is political. Democrats are reportedly opposed to giving Trump a win, particularly before the midterm elections. The bill needs 60 votes to pass the Senate, and without Democratic support it cannot advance.

The CLARITY Act is intended to create a federal regulatory framework for digital assets. Supporters say it would end the “regulation by enforcement” approach that has shaped U.S. crypto policy in recent years, a criticism often directed at the use of agency lawsuits and enforcement actions instead of legislation or formal rulemaking. If the bill fails, the crypto industry would lose a major legislative effort aimed at establishing clearer rules for digital assets.

The bill has been negotiated for months, the ethics provision has been resolved, and the text is ready, according to the source article. However, a vote has not yet taken place. Scaramucci and Deaton argue that the remaining barrier is partisan politics rather than the details of the legislation.

For the crypto industry, the stakes are tied to regulatory clarity. Supporters of the CLARITY Act say institutions are waiting for clearer rules before expanding activity in the sector. They also argue that the U.S. risks falling behind other jurisdictions, including the European Union, which already has the Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation, known as MiCA.

Deaton said the situation is “tragic and pathetic,” arguing that the industry has spent years seeking clear rules and that the bill is now being held up by partisan politics.