President Trump Grants “Full and Unconditional” Pardon to Ross Ulbricht, Founder of Notorious Dark Web Site Silk Road
President Trump announced Tuesday night that he has granted a “full and unconditional” pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the notorious dark web site Silk Road. Ulbricht, now 40, was sentenced to two life terms in prison, plus 40 years, in 2015 for running the website that sold drugs and other illegal products while accepting bitcoin as payment.
Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, stating that he had called Ulbricht’s mother to inform her of the pardon. He described Ulbricht’s sentence as “ridiculous” and “vastly disproportionate” to the crimes he committed. The president also compared the case to his own experience with the “modern day weaponization of government against me.”
Ulbricht’s lawyer, Brandon Sample, expressed gratitude for the pardon, saying that it marks the end of a long and challenging journey for Ulbricht and his loved ones. Trump’s decision is seen as a victory for libertarians, who have championed Ulbricht as a pioneer of free markets.
Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) had previously written to Trump urging him to commute Ulbricht’s sentence, arguing that it was “vastly disproportionate” to his crimes. Paul noted that the worst drug sellers on Silk Road received more lenient sentences.
The White House has not responded to inquiries about the pardon.