Silk Road's Ross Ulbricht Receives Presidential Pardon from Trump

• Ross Ulbricht pardoned by Trump
• Impact of the decision on the Libertarian Movement

In a surprise move after Donald Trump took office, the US president pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the notorious Silk Road online marketplace. The move fulfilled a belated but powerful election promise by Trump.

During his reelection campaign, Trump had promised at the Libertarian National Convention in May 2024 that he would ease Ulbricht’s situation. “If you vote for me, on day one I will commute Ross Ulbricht’s sentence to time served. He’s already served 11 years. We’re going to bring him home,” Trump announced, setting off a series of debates about justice and the presidential pardon power.

The official announcement of the pardon was made by Trump on the Truth Social platform, where he revealed that he had informed Ulbricht's mother of the decision. "It is a gesture of honor to the Libertarian Movement and an acknowledgement of my criticism of the prosecutors who sentenced him to a double sentence of life in prison plus 40 years, which I consider ridiculous," Trump explained.

Ross Ulbricht, for his part, shared his gratitude on X, highlighting the importance of the support he received during his years in confinement: “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. After 11 years in prison, it is difficult to express how I feel at this moment. It is thanks to your undying support that I can have a second chance.”

Last night, Donald Trump pledged to commute my sentence on day 1, if reelected. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

After 11 years in prison, it's hard to express how I feel at this moment. It is thanks to your undying support that I may get a second chance.

- Ross Ulbricht (@RealRossU) May 26, 2024

Ulbricht has been incarcerated without the possibility of parole since 2015, convicted of his role in creating and operating Silk Road, an online marketplace known for selling illegal substances and other prohibited items. His arrest was a controversial landmark, especially among advocates of individual freedoms and cryptocurrency, who saw his sentence as excessively harsh.