Trump made a stunning decision.
President Donald Trump made a bold move on Tuesday, granting a full pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the infamous online marketplace Silk Road. This action fulfilled a promise Trump had made to Libertarian voters, reinforcing his commitment to criminal justice reform and individual freedoms. The announcement was made via Trump’s Truth Social account, where he shared that he personally called Ulbricht’s mother to inform her of the pardon.
In his post, Trump expressed his frustration with the people behind Ulbricht’s conviction, stating, “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 went on to call Ulbricht’s sentence of two life terms plus 40 years “ridiculous,” underscoring his belief that Ulbricht’s punishment did not fit the crime.
Ulbricht was arrested in 2013 for creating and operating Silk Road, an online marketplace where illegal drugs and other illicit goods were traded. He was convicted in 2015 on multiple charges, including drug distribution and running a criminal enterprise. His life sentence without the possibility of parole had sparked outrage among Libertarians and criminal justice reform advocates, who saw his punishment as excessively harsh.
During the 2020 election cycle, Trump spoke at the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, D.C., where he promised to commute Ulbricht’s sentence to time served if elected. The pardon announcement on Tuesday represents the fulfillment of that promise. Many in the Libertarian community celebrated the move, with Angela McArdle, Chair of the Libertarian National Committee, calling Ulbricht “a libertarian political prisoner” and praising Trump for making his release a top priority.
For Trump, the pardon not only represents a victory for criminal justice reform but also strengthens his appeal to voters who believe in limited government and personal liberty. His willingness to take action on issues that matter to the base is a testament to his dedication to fulfilling his campaign promises, regardless of political pressure.
