President Trump on Tuesday pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the anonymous marketplace website Silk Road, fulfilling a campaign pledge he made at the Libertarian Party’s National Convention.
In a Truth Social post, Mr. Trump said that it was “his pleasure” to sign “a full and unconditional pardon.”
“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!” Mr. Trump wrote.
Mr. Trump said he called Mr. Ulbricht’s mother to tell her the news and that the move was in honor of the support she and other libertarians showed him in the 2024 presidential election.
In 2015, Mr. Ulbricht was convicted on seven charges related to the operation of Silk Road, a dark website that used Tor-enabled anonymity and bitcoin to allow people to buy and sell illegal items.
Silk Road served as an escrow between buyer and seller and did not release the funds until both parties were satisfied with the deal.
Illegal drugs were sold through the site, though Mr. Ulbricht did not sell any illicit substances himself. And none of the charges were related to causing direct harm to anyone.
He received two life sentences without parole and has sat in jail since 2013.
Libertarians have taken up Mr. Ulbricht’s cause, believing the government overstepped in the case.
In May, Mr. Trump delivered a speech at the Libertarian National Convention and although he was booed at the event, over his policies on COVID-19 and his running up the national debt, he did receive a big cheer when he pledged to commute Mr. Ulbricht’s sentence to time served.
The crowd erupted in a “Free Ross” chant in hopes that he would take action if elected.
“If you vote for me, on day one I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht, to a sentence of time served. He’s already served 11 years. We’re going to get him home,” Mr. Trump told the crowd.
Some libertarians said they voted for Mr. Trump in November’s election because of his vow to free Mr. Ulbricht, according to exit polls.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.