In a move that has sparked debate, President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the Silk Road dark web marketplace, who had been serving two life sentences plus 40 years for enabling the illegal trade of drugs and other illicit goods. People using his site traded in bitcoin to avoid detection.
Why It Matters
The pardon represents a stark departure from Trump’s previous rhetoric on drug crimes. As recently as 2018, Trump endorsed capital punishment for drug dealers, stating: “If we don’t get tough on the drug dealers, we’re wasting our time.”
Family photo of Kirk and Lyn Ulbricht with their son Ross, 18, after his graduation from Westlake High School in Austin, Texas. Family photo of Kirk and Lyn Ulbricht with their son Ross, 18, after his graduation from Westlake High School in Austin, Texas. ULBRICHT FAMILY
What To Know
The decision fulfills a promise Trump made to Libertarian supporters during his campaign but appears to contradict Trump’s earlier advocacy for the death penalty for drug dealers.
Ulbricht, known by the pseudonym “Dread Pirate Roberts,” operated Silk Road between 2011 and 2013, facilitating more than $200 million in transactions for illegal drugs, hacking services, and counterfeit documents. He was arrested in 2013 and convicted in 2015 of multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute narcotics and money laundering. His website relied on the anonymity of the Tor network and the burgeoning cryptocurrency market to allow massive drug deals.
In November 2022, while announcing his candidacy for the 2024 presidential race, Trump called for the execution of drug dealers.
Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, he said that drug dealers were executed in China, Singapore and other countries, and it was the only option to tackle the drugs issue in the U.S.
Members of the Libertarian Party stand in chairs while chanting and demanding the release of Ross Ulbricht during the party’s national convention at the Washington Hilton on May 25, 2024 in Washington, DC. Members of the Libertarian Party stand in chairs while chanting and demanding the release of Ross Ulbricht during the party’s national convention at the Washington Hilton on May 25, 2024 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
What People Are Saying
In announcing a pardon, President Trump attacked those who had imprisoned Ulbricht.
“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,” Trump wrote on a post on Truth Social on Tuesday. “He was given two life sentences, plus 40 years. Ridiculous!”
Ulbricht’s attorney, Brandon Sample, welcomed Trump’s announcement.
“After enduring over a decade of incarceration, this decision offers Ross the opportunity to begin anew, to rebuild his life, and to contribute positively to society,” Sample said in a statement.
What Happens Next
A photo posted on a Twitter account dedicated to his release shows that Ulbricht was released from prison late on Tuesday, holding a plant in one hand and his bag in the other. His future is uncertain but he is likely to seek employment in the technology field.
Trump is expected to issue other pardons in the coming days.
