Late on Tuesday, President Trump revealed that he had extended a “full and unconditional” pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder behind the infamous Silk Road online marketplace.
The 78-year-old former commander-in-chief disclosed his clemency decision through a post on Truth Social.
He wrote, “I just called the mother of Ross William Ulbright [sic] to let her know that in honor of her and the Libertarian Movement, which supported me so strongly, it was my pleasure to have just signed a full and unconditional pardon of her son, Ross.”
He continued: “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. He was given two life sentences, plus 40 years. Ridiculous!”
In an email to The Post, attorney Brandon Sample said, “Ross Ulbricht and his family are deeply and eternally grateful to President Trump for his extraordinary act of grace in granting Ross a full and unconditional pardon. 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.”
He added: “This moment marks the end of a long and challenging journey for Ross and his loved ones, and they are overwhelmed with gratitude for this life-changing gesture of mercy and justice.”
Trump had previously pledged in May to reduce Ulbricht’s punishment for drug trafficking and money laundering “down to time served” if he secured victory in the 2024 presidential race.
Ulbricht was taken into custody in October 2013 in San Francisco, accused of operating the Silk Road platform — a site notorious for facilitating transactions of illicit goods and accepting bitcoin payments — under the alias “Dread Pirate Roberts.”
Now 40, Ulbricht was found guilty in February 2015 of drug trafficking and participating in conspiracies related to money laundering and hacking. That May, he received two life terms plus an additional 40 years.
Having exhausted his appeals, including attempts at the Supreme Court, Ulbricht remained incarcerated in a high-security prison in Arizona.
On Tuesday, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) penned a letter urging Trump to grant leniency. “I write to urge you to follow through on your stated intention to commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht. Mr. Ulbricht is serving two life sentences plus forty years without parole for nonviolent offenses related to the website he launched in early 2011,” Paul’s letter stated.
“Like so many others, I am shocked by the harsh sentence imposed on this first-time offender.”
Paul contended that Ulbricht’s punishment is “vastly disproportionate to his crimes,” pointing out that “the worst drug sellers on the site received significantly more lenient sentences.”
Trump’s commitment to commuting Ulbricht’s sentence earned him significant support from Libertarians, who view Ulbricht as a trailblazer for unfettered markets and waved “Free Ross” signs at their party’s national gathering when Trump addressed them.
{Matzav.com}