President Trump did not pardon or commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht, founder of the anonymous marketplace site Silk Road, despite promising during the campaign that he would be released on “day one.”
Ulbricht was found guilty of using his website, which was launched in 2011 and used cryptocurrency for payment, to sell illegal drugs, even though he did not sell any illegal drugs. received.
After being sworn into office on Monday, President Trump announced efforts to reduce immigration, designate cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, reinstate the federal death penalty, and pardon or commute the sentences of those convicted before Congress on January 6th. , initiated several administrative measures. 2021, Capitol Riot.
However, Trump's first day back in the White House ended with Ulbricht still in prison, without the president's pardon or commutation of his sentence as promised last spring.
President Trump vows to commute sentence of Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht
Members of the Libertarian Party sit in chairs chanting and demanding the release of Ross Ulbricht during the party's national convention at the Washington Hilton on May 25, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)
In May, President Trump, trying to win over Libertarian voters, spoke at the Libertarian National Convention to boos from a hostile crowd. Libertarians believe that government investigators overreached in the Silk Road scandal and generally oppose the war on drugs.
Attendees were unfavorable to Trump for much of the event, but there was a loud cheer when Ulbricht said he would commute his sentence once it expires, and the crowd was hopeful that the then-presidential candidate would win. “Release Ross,” he shouted. Take action if elected to allow the founder of the Silk Road to return to his family after more than a decade in prison.
“If you vote for me, on day one I will commute Ross Ulbricht's sentence. He has already served 11 years. We are going to bring him home,” Trump said. spoke to a crowd of libertarians. Some of them were holding placards that read “Free Ross.''
Ulbricht responded to Trump's comments on social media platform X the next day.
“Last night, Donald Trump promised to commute his sentence on day one if re-elected,” he wrote. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. After 11 years in prison, it's hard to express how I feel right now. It's because of your continued support that I'm getting a second chance.”
A card featuring images of President Donald Trump and Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht on display at the Bitcoin 2024 conference on Saturday, July 27, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Getty Images)
“As my final monthly resolution for 2024, I will study every day and prepare for freedom as quickly as possible,” Ulbricht wrote last month.
Mr. Trump later reiterated his promise to commute Mr. Ulbricht's life sentence at a Bitcoin conference, drawing loud cheers.
Despite President Trump failing to fulfill his promise to release Ulbricht on his first day in office, it is reported that he could pardon Ulbricht as early as Tuesday.
“President Trump's staff just confirmed to me that Mr. Ross's pardon will be granted later tonight or tomorrow morning,” Libertarian Party Chair Angela McArdle wrote in X on Monday night.
Elon Musk, head of the Trump administration's new Office of Government Efficiency, also said that Ulbricht would be released soon.
“Ross will be released,” Musk wrote to X.
Many liberals say they supported Trump in the November election because of his pledge to free Ulbricht.
Trump pardons almost all 1/6 defendants
Supporters of Ross Ulbricht, the alleged founder and operator of the Silk Road underground market, stand outside a federal courthouse in Manhattan during the first day of jury selection for his trial in New York City on January 13, 2015. . (Getty Images)
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During his first term, President Trump considered intervening to free Ulbricht before ultimately deciding not to pardon him.
Ulbricht, now 40, ran the website from 2011 until his arrest in 2013. Judgment after 2 years to life in prison.
“I was trying to help us move towards a freer and more just world,” Ulbricht said from prison in 2021. “Everyone knows that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. And now I'm here. I'm in hell. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. I know too.''
2024 Libertarian presidential candidate Chase Oliver wrote on X, “President Trump finished signing the EO and pardon overnight. Hope to see commutation of #FREEROSSULBRICHT in the morning.”
