Trump Pardons Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht, Honoring Pledge to Libertarians — Freed from Life Sentence Without Parole

President Donald Trump has pardoned the founder of the Silk Road, Ross Ulbricht.

Ulbricht was sentenced back in 2015 to two life sentences without the possibility of parole for his role in creation the Silk Road, a dark web operation where people could buy and sell illicit goods and services.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump acknowledged that Ulbricht’s sentence has been excessive.

“I just called the mother of Ross William Ulbright 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,” Trump 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!”

Ulbricht’s  sentence had long been a cause célèbre for mainly libertarian activists, who believe that he was excessively punished for crimes in which he had no direct involvement.

Among those who had lobbied for Trump to give Ross a pardon were Senator Rand Paul and Rep. Thomas Massie, both of whom celebrated the decision to free him from prison.

First launched in 2011 by Ulbricht under the pseudonym “Dread Pirate Roberts,” the Silk Road facilitated the sale of illegal goods, primarily drugs, using Bitcoin as its primary currency.

In 2013, the FBI shut it down, arresting Ulbricht, who was convicted of several charges, including money laundering, conspiracy to traffic narcotics, and hacking.

The campaign to free Ulbricht has been popular and longstanding.

Through his family, he would often post on his X account, expressing hope that he one day be released and describing the challenges of day-to-day prison life.

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