Trump pardons Ross Ulbricht, founder of deep web Silk Road marketplace
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UIbricht was sentenced in 2015 to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of organizing a drug trafficking scheme with transactions that surpassed $200 million.
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Ross Ulbricht in an undated photograph presented as an exhibit during his 2015 criminal trial in New York federal court. (Handout/ US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York)
US President Donald Trump has pardoned the founder of the Silk Road deep web drug marketplace, who had been sentenced to life over participating in drug trafficking.
"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," Trump said on Truth Social on Tuesday, comparing Ulbricht's case with cases against himself.
"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!" the post read.
Read more: Trump pardons 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants after taking office
Ulbricht had tweeted in May regarding Trump's campaign pledge to commute his sentence on Day 1 if he were elected president, thanking him for the promise.
Last night, Donald Trump pledged to commute my sentence on day 1, if reelected. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
— Ross Ulbricht (@RealRossU) May 26, 2024
After 11 years in prison, it is hard to express how I feel at this moment. It is thanks to your undying support that I may get a second chance.
The Silk Road was active on the dark web, and listed over 10,000 items, with 70% of them being psychoactive substances banned in most countries around the globe, according to experts. Users could use it to purchase items anonymously. It was closed in October 2013 by US authorities.
Ulbricht was sentenced in 2015 to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of organizing a drug trafficking scheme with transactions that surpassed $200 million. It is noteworthy that though he pardoned Ulbricht, Trump has repeatedly called for life sentences in all drug trade-related cases.
Trump signs key executive orders, initiating drastic changes
Donald Trump signed several executive orders after addressing nearly 20,000 supporters at the Captial One Arena on Monday.
Trump, who had only been inaugurated hours earlier, said he would sign executive orders to stop 80 orders issued by the previous administration. He also said that he would pardon those arrested for the January 6, 2021 riots at the Capitol, describing those imprisoned as "hostages."
"Tonight I'm going to be signing on the J6 hostages – pardons to get them out," Trump asserted.
"As soon as I leave, I'm going to the Oval Office and will be signing pardons for a lot of people," he said.
Following the speech Trump sat at a desk in front of his supporters to sign several orders, in an unprecedented move. According to news agencies, the president approved policies to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Change Agreement and end "work from home" for Federal employees, among other decisions.
Trump then began to sign a series of documents when he arrived at the Oval Office. This included memorandums and policy on issues ranging from migration to the economy to removing sanctions on illegal Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
