- Donald Trump pardons Ross Ulbricht, ending his double life sentence.
- The pardon fulfills Trump’s promise to liberals and crypto enthusiasts.
Former US President Donald Trump has issued a full pardon to Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road dark web marketplace. This decision ends the two life sentences issued against Ulbricht in addition to 40 years, a sentence that many consider excessive.
Trump Announce Pardoning Social Truth, emphasizing its ties to the libertarian movement. He mentioned,
“I just called Ross Ulbricht’s mother to tell her that I signed a full and unconditional pardon for her son.”
He criticized federal prosecutors in the case, calling them “scumbags” associated with his legal challenges.
Ulbricht was 40 years old convicted In 2015 to operate Silk Road. The platform allowed users to trade drugs and illicit services using Bitcoin, generating over $200 million in sales. Prosecutors pointed to Silk Road’s role in at least six drug-related deaths, and alleged that Bitcoin’s anonymity fueled its operations.
Ulbricht’s supporters, led by his mother Lynn, have been campaigning for his release since his arrest in 2013.ros freeThe movement has gained traction in the cryptocurrency community, which sees it as a pioneer in early Bitcoin adoption.
Ross Ulbricht’s release sparks controversy
During his election campaign, Trump promised to release Ulbricht, aiming to gain support from liberals and cryptocurrency enthusiasts. Betting markets predicted a 99% chance of a pardon within Trump’s first 100 days in office.
Silk Road operated from 2011 to 2013 under the alias “Dread Pirate Roberts”. It had over 100,000 users, facilitated drug sales and laundered millions through Bitcoin. The FBI arrested Ulbricht in San Francisco in 2013. Brandon Sample, Ulbricht’s attorney, welcomed the decision.
“This gives Ross the opportunity to rebuild his life and contribute positively to society,” he said.
After spending more than a decade behind bars, Ulbricht was seen leaving a US prison in Tucson, Arizona. The sight of his release sparked optimism among supporters about his future.
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