President Donald Trump announced Tuesday a pardon for Ross Ulbricht, ending the Silk Road founder’s more than decade-long imprisonment.
In a social media post on Truth Social, Trump said he had granted Ulbricht a “full and unconditional pardon,” citing support from the Libertarian movement and criticizing the government’s handling of Ulbricht’s case.
Ulbricht, 40, was convicted in 2015 on charges including conspiracy to traffic narcotics and money laundering in connection with the Silk Road, a darknet site that facilitated billions of dollars in illegal drug transactions.
He received a sentence of two life terms plus 40 years without parole, sparking years of debate over the fairness of his punishment. In his post, Trump labeled Ross’ sentence as “ridiculous.”
“The scum that worked to convict him were some of the same lunatics involved in the modern-day weaponization of government against me,” Trump wrote Tuesday.
It follows eight months since Trump reignited hopes for the Silk Road founder’s release.
“If you vote for me, on day one, I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht,” Trump declared at the 2024 Libertarian National Convention in May.
The Libertarian movement played a crucial role in Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential victory by mobilizing a key voter base in critical swing states.
Ross’ pardon is expected to draw sharp reactions from both supporters and critics.
Advocates for Ulbricht have long argued his sentence was excessive, while opponents highlight the scale of criminal activity linked to the defunct dark web marketplace.
This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.
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