In a highly anticipated move, former President Donald Trump announced the full and unconditional pardon of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the notorious Silk Road platform, via his Truth Social platform. Trump revealed that he personally informed Ulbricht’s mother about the decision, which sent waves of excitement through Ulbricht’s supporters. The pardon came just a day after Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed that Ulbricht would receive the promised presidential clemency.
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. The scum that worked to convict him were…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) January 22, 2025
Ulbricht, convicted in 2015 on charges including conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, money laundering, and computer hacking, had been serving a life sentence for his role in creating Silk Road. The dark web marketplace allowed users to engage in anonymous transactions, primarily for illicit goods such as drugs, using Bitcoin. Despite the platform’s criminal associations, Ulbricht’s supporters have long argued that his punishment was disproportionately harsh.
Trump’s decision aligns with his prior remarks at the Libertarian National Convention, where he hinted at potential clemency for Ulbricht. The Libertarian Party, which had championed Ulbricht’s release for years, hailed the move as a victory against government overreach and excessive sentencing. Libertarians have long criticized the criminal justice system’s treatment of Ulbricht, viewing his case as a symbol of digital privacy violations.
The pardon also generated political controversy. Trump used his Truth Social post to accuse those behind Ulbricht’s prosecution of being part of efforts to weaponize government institutions against him, drawing parallels between Ulbricht’s case and broader political issues.
Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican ally of Trump, expressed gratitude for the decision, noting his own long-standing advocacy for Ulbricht’s release. Other political figures echoed Massie’s sentiments, denouncing the severity of Ulbricht’s punishment.
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Meanwhile, Ulbricht, who had reflected on his experience publicly, expressed his gratitude toward his supporters and acknowledged Trump’s pivotal role in fulfilling his promise. With Musk’s backing and Trump’s intervention, the Silk Road founder’s fate has now taken a dramatic turn, raising important questions about digital privacy and justice in the modern era.
BREAKING: Here's the first image of Ross Ulbricht leaving prison as a free man 🧡 pic.twitter.com/j2vYeypmDs
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) January 22, 2025
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