Donald Trump, as President, pardoned Ross Ulbricht, who created the Silk Road darknet marketplace. On January 21, Ulbricht received his freedom following a decade-long incarceration, two life terms, and 40 years without parole for leading the Silk Road darknet project.
A controversial decision
The pardon has sparked widespread discussion, given the severity of Ulbricht’s original sentence. Convicted in 2015 on charges including conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, money laundering, and computer hacking, Ulbricht’s platform allowed users to buy and sell illegal goods using Bitcoin for anonymity. Prosecutors alleged that he earned millions from the enterprise, labeling him the mastermind of a vast criminal operation.
Despite years of appeals for clemency, Ulbricht remained incarcerated in a high-security Arizona prison until Trump’s intervention. In a post on Truth Social, Trump, 78, confirmed the decision, sharing that he informed Ulbricht’s mother of the pardon. He criticized the lengthy sentence as unjust, calling it “ridiculous” and suggesting it was motivated by political bias.
Support from libertarian leaders
Trump’s decision to pardon Ulbricht followed significant lobbying from libertarian leaders, including Senator Rand Paul. In a letter to the former president, Paul described Ulbricht’s punishment as “vastly disproportionate” and urged Trump to act. The senator emphasized that even high-profile drug dealers tied to the platform had received far lighter sentences. Paul’s advocacy, combined with support from members of the libertarian movement, is believed to have played a key role in Trump’s decision.
Trump’s comments on the pardon
Trump, who has often referred to himself as the “crypto president,” made clear his dissatisfaction with the original trial. He claimed that some of those involved in Ulbricht’s conviction were the same individuals who, in his words, “weaponized” government systems against him.
By signing the executive order, Trump effectively ended Ulbricht’s imprisonment, allowing the 39-year-old to regain his freedom after more than a decade behind bars. Ulbricht’s case remains a polarizing topic, with critics arguing that his sentence was excessively harsh for a nonviolent offender. Meanwhile, supporters see his pardon as a victory for justice and an acknowledgment of the flaws in the criminal justice system.