Trump Issues Pardon for Ross Ulbricht, Silk Road Creator, Citing Government Overreach

President Donald Trump has granted a full and unconditional pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, the notorious dark web marketplace known for facilitating the sale of illegal drugs.

Ulbricht, who was convicted in 2015 for his role in a narcotics and money-laundering conspiracy, was serving a life sentence in prison. Trump, who has long supported Ulbricht's cause, joined libertarians in calling the conviction an example of government overreach. On Tuesday, he shared the news with Ulbricht’s mother, personally informing her of the pardon.

Silk Road, which was shut down by authorities in 2013 after Ulbricht’s arrest, allowed users to buy drugs using Bitcoin, as well as illegal items like hacking tools and stolen passports. Ulbricht faced charges including conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, money laundering, and computer hacking. Prosecutors argued that Silk Road had facilitated over $200 million in illicit drug transactions. They also accused Ulbricht of attempting to arrange six murders-for-hire, though no evidence was found that any murders were carried out.

Trump Issues Pardon for Ross Ulbricht, Silk Road Creator, Citing Government Overreach

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump blasted the legal system, calling the conviction "ridiculous" and criticizing the individuals involved in the case. “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.

Operating under the alias “Dread Pirate Roberts,” Ulbricht ran Silk Road as a hidden marketplace accessible only through Tor, a network that allows users to remain anonymous online. The site became infamous, attracting nearly a million registered users, though the exact number of active users remained unclear.

Ulbricht was arrested in a dramatic sting operation at a San Francisco library in 2013 while allegedly chatting with an undercover federal agent. His digital footprint led investigators to him after a lengthy and meticulous investigation.

At Ulbricht’s sentencing in 2015, District Judge Katherine Forrest expressed that he was no different from any other drug dealer, emphasizing that the long sentence was intended as a deterrent. Despite her warning, similar marketplaces emerged after Silk Road's shutdown.

Trump had hinted at a possible commutation for Ulbricht during a speech at the Libertarian National Convention last year, courting support ahead of the 2024 election. The Libertarian Party has long advocated for Ulbricht's release, framing his case as a glaring example of government overreach.

Kentucky Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, a supporter of Trump and Ulbricht, praised the president’s decision. “Thank you for keeping your word to me and others who have been advocating for Ross' freedom,” Massie said in a statement.