Trump Vows to Pardon Silk Road Creator Ross Ulbricht if Re-Elected
Former President Donald Trump has made a promise to grant a presidential pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, if he is re-elected in November’s election.
Trump made this announcement during the Libertarian Party’s National Convention in Washington on May 25.
“If you vote for me, on day one I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht,” Trump said during his speech.
He expressed his intention to bring Ulbricht, who has already served 11 years, back home.
Silk Road, known as the first modern darknet market with a payment system built on Bitcoin, was established in 2011 and operated by Ulbricht under the username “Dread Pirate Roberts.”
However, on October 1, 2013, the FBI seized Ulbricht’s personal laptop, leading to his subsequent arrest.
Ulbricht was convicted in a U.S. federal court in 2015 on various charges related to the operations of Silk Road.
He received two life terms plus forty years without the possibility of parole.
In addition to the pledge to pardon Ulbricht, Trump addressed his pro-crypto stance, which marks a shift from his previous skepticism towards digital assets.
He emphasized his commitment to ensuring that the future of cryptocurrency and Bitcoin is developed within the United States rather than being driven overseas.
Furthermore, Trump promised to protect individuals who choose to hold their crypto assets outside centralized exchanges, advocating for the right to self-custody.
He also made a direct reference to Senator Elizabeth Warren, assuring crypto holders that he would keep her and her associates away from their Bitcoin.
The announcement by Trump regarding a potential pardon for Ulbricht has sparked discussions within the crypto and legal communities.
While some argue that a pardon would
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