Trump Pardons Ross Ulbricht, Creator of Silk Road Dark Web Market
Trump Pardons Ross Ulbricht, Creator of Silk Road Dark Web Market.
US President Donald Trump has announced that he has granted a full and unconditional pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the individual behind Silk Road, the notorious dark web marketplace known for the sale of illegal drugs.
Ulbricht was found guilty in 2015 in New York on charges related to a narcotics and money laundering conspiracy, resulting in a life sentence.
Trump shared the news on his Truth Social platform, stating that he had personally contacted Ulbricht's mother to inform her of the pardon granted to her son.
Silk Road, which was dismantled in 2013 following Ulbricht's arrest, facilitated the sale of illegal drugs through Bitcoin, in addition to offering hacking tools and counterfeit passports.
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"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," Trump said in his post online on Tuesday evening. "He was given two life sentences, plus 40 years. Ridiculous!"
Ulbricht was convicted on multiple charges, including conspiracy to engage in drug trafficking, money laundering, and computer hacking.
During the proceedings, prosecutors asserted that Ulbricht's website, which operated on the concealed "dark web," facilitated the anonymous sale of drugs valued at over $200 million (£131 million).
He managed Silk Road under the pseudonym Dread Pirate Roberts, a nod to a character from the 1987 film The Princess Bride.
Prosecutors also alleged that he attempted to arrange six murders-for-hire, one of which targeted a former Silk Road employee; however, they noted that there was no evidence to suggest that any of these murders were executed.
The name Silk Road was inspired by the ancient trade routes that connected Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa.
The site gained infamy through media coverage and discussions online. Access to the site was restricted to users employing Tor, a system that allows individuals to navigate the internet without disclosing their identities or locations.
According to court documents from the FBI, the site had nearly one million registered users, although investigators were uncertain about the number of active participants.
Sentencing Ulbricht - who has two college degrees - District Judge Katherine Forrest said he was "no better a person than any other drug dealer".
She said the site had been his "carefully planned life's work".
The judge remarked that the extended sentence served as a warning to potential imitators that there would be "very serious consequences".
"I wanted to empower people to make choices in their lives and have privacy and anonymity," Ulbricht said at his sentencing in May 2015.
Trump had alluded to the possibility of commuting Ulbricht's sentence during a speech at the Libertarian National Convention last year.
The Libertarian Party has been actively supporting Ulbricht's release, arguing that his situation exemplifies government overreach.
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, a supporter of Trump, expressed his approval of the president's decision.
"Thank you for keeping your word to me and others who have been advocating for Ross' freedom," said the Kentucky lawmaker.
While Trump’s pardon of Ross Ulbricht may be seen as a victory for those advocating for criminal justice reform, it raises significant concerns. Ulbricht’s actions, which facilitated the illegal sale of drugs, hacking tools, and counterfeit documents, contributed to widespread criminal activity on the dark web.
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The pardon risks sending a message that such crimes can be overlooked, potentially encouraging similar illegal enterprises. Additionally, the pardon undermines the severity of Ulbricht's crimes, which involved drug trafficking and alleged murder-for-hire attempts. For many, this decision is troubling, as it could diminish the gravity of criminal consequences in the eyes of the public.
