President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday night that he had issued a full and unconditional pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road dark web marketplace, who was serving two life sentences plus 40 years for drug trafficking and related offenses.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed that Ulbricht’s sentence was ‘ridiculous’ and criticized those involved in his prosecution, suggesting a political motivation behind it.
“I just called the mother of Ross William Ulbricht to let her know that in honor of her and the Libertarian Movement, which supported me so strongly, it was my pleasure to have just signed a full and unconditional pardon of her son, Ross,” the president wrote. “The scum that worked to convict him were some of the same lunatics who were involved in the modern day weaponization of government against me. He was given two life sentences, plus 40 years. Ridiculous!”
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Ulbricht’s case has garnered significant attention from libertarian activists and advocates for criminal justice reform, who argue he was a victim of government overreach.
“Ross Ulbricht and his family are deeply and eternally grateful to President Trump for his extraordinary act of grace in granting Ross a full and unconditional pardon. After enduring over a decade of incarceration, this decision offers Ross the opportunity to begin anew, to rebuild his life, and to contribute positively to society,” a lawyer for Ulbricht’s family told the New York Post. “This moment marks the end of a long and challenging journey for Ross and his loved ones, and they are overwhelmed with gratitude for this life-changing gesture of mercy and justice.”
Trump’s decision aligns with his campaign promises made to the Libertarian Party, among which Ulbricht has become a kind of folk hero for his efforts to pioneer free online markets.
The Silk Road was infamous for facilitating the sale of illegal drugs, leading to multiple overdose deaths linked to substances purchased through the site. Ulbricht, who founded the site in 2011, was arrested in 2013 and resentenced in 2015 after being convicted of drug trafficking, money laundering, and computer hacking.
This pardon continues Trump’s trend of using his executive power to address controversial criminal cases, including a mass pardon for individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot shortly after taking office.
Connor Walcott is the lead writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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