Jan 21, 2025 - Business

Trump pardons Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht

Sareen Habeshian

People hold up signs reading "Free Ross" as former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to address the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, DC, May 25, 2024. Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the online marketplace Silk Road for the sale of heroin, cocaine, — People hold up signs reading "Free Ross" as then-Republican presidential candidate Trump addressed the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, DC, on May 25, 2024. Photo: Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images

President Trump on Tuesday announced he signed a full and unconditional pardon for Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the unlawful Silk Road marketplace who was convicted of drug trafficking charges.

The big picture: Trump vowed on the campaign trail to commute Ulbricht's sentence as he sought backing to be the Republican Party's presidential nominee from Libertarians, who view the Silk Road founder as a hero.

Flashback: Ulbricht was sentenced in 2015 to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted on charges that included distributing narcotics online.

What he' saying: Trump said on Truth Social that he called Ulbricht's mother to inform her of the pardon "in honor of her and the Libertarian Movement, which supported me so strongly."

He added, "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."

Go deeper: Trump pardons most Jan. 6 defendants

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Trump pardons Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht

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