President Trump has officially pardoned Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht, fulfilling a campaign promise.
Ulbricht created the online black marketplace in 2011, which facilitated the anonymous sale of illegal drugs and illicit goods using Bitcoin as a method of payment.
After his arrest in 2013, Ulbricht received a double life sentence plus 40 years without the possibility of parole, which was significantly harsher than many individuals who sold illicit goods on Silk Road or similar platforms.
Now, with Ulbricht at age 40, President Trump has issued an unconditional pardon and a statement on Truth Social.
“I just called the mother of Ross William Ulbricht 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.
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!”
Ulbricht’s mantra for Silk Road centered on principles of personal freedom and individual sovereignty.
He touted a marketplace free from government oversight, where people could trade freely as long as no harm was directly caused to others.
That philosophy was reflected in Silk Road’s inconsistently enforced and often ignored terms and conditions, which prohibited listings for items explicitly intended to harm others, such as stolen goods, child exploitation material or weapons intended for violence.
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