US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he has granted a pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the individual responsible for the “Silk Road” online marketplace, which was involved in facilitating drug sales amounting to millions of dollars.
In 2015, Ulbricht received a life sentence after being found guilty of orchestrating the “dark web” platform, where approximately $200 million worth of narcotics were sold to customers globally.
Operating under the pseudonym “Dread Pirate Roberts,” Ulbricht faced allegations of commissioning five murders and was ultimately sentenced to two life terms for drug distribution and engaging in a criminal enterprise.
During his campaign last year, Trump had pledged to secure Ulbricht’s release while addressing the Libertarian National Convention, aiming to garner support from the fringe party.
“I just contacted the mother of Ross William Ulbricht to inform her that, in recognition of her and the Libertarian Movement, which has been a strong supporter of mine, I have signed a full and unconditional pardon for her son,” Trump stated in a post on his Truth Social platform, a day after his inauguration.
Ulbricht’s situation has garnered significant attention within libertarian circles, with advocates condemning his conviction as an example of government overreach and contrary to free market principles.
“The individuals responsible for his conviction were among those who have sought to weaponize the government against me,” Trump remarked on Tuesday.
The Republican has consistently asserted that the federal and state criminal charges against him are politically motivated.
Previously, Trump has expressed intentions to impose the death penalty on drug traffickers; however, his commitment to free Ulbricht was met with enthusiasm from the audience last May.
The Libertarian Party often fields minor candidates who advocate for popular limited-government policies, such as marijuana legalization, while also promoting more fringe ideas like the abolition of the federal tax collection agency and social security.
