In a significant and controversial move, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on January 22, 2025, that he signed a full pardon for Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the notorious Silk Road dark web marketplace. This decision follows Ulbricht's life sentence for running a site that facilitated illegal drug sales and a variety of illicit transactions, totaling over $200 million.

Ulbricht was arrested in 2013 and convicted in 2015 for multiple charges related to drug trafficking and money laundering. At the time, the site was referred to as the “most sophisticated and extensive criminal marketplace on the internet” by U.S. prosecutors. His sentencing included two life terms plus an additional 40 years. Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, stating he had called Ulbricht's mother to convey the news, expressing that Ulbricht's conviction was the result of a "modern-day weaponization of government." AP News reported Trump labeling the prison term as “ridiculous.”

The Silk Road, which operated under the alias Dread Pirate Roberts, utilized Bitcoin for transactions, relying on anonymity software called Tor, making it nearly impossible for law enforcement to trace users. Prosecutors alleged that Ulbricht not only profited from drug sales but also solicited murders of individuals who threatened his business, although no evidence validated these claims.

Trump's pardon fulfills a commitment he made during a speech at the Libertarian National Convention last May, where he addressed the growing concerns among Libertarians regarding government overreach in criminal prosecutions. Angela McArdle, chair of the Libertarian National Committee, stated that Ulbricht had been a “libertarian political prisoner for more than a decade,” reflecting an ongoing sentiment within the party advocating for Ulbricht’s release.

Trump's action is seen as part of a broader strategy to curry favor with Libertarian voters, which has heightened discussions around criminal justice reform and the role of government in individual freedoms. Supporters argued that Ulbricht's case illustrates excessive penalties in the digital age and the innovative, albeit illegal, use of technology in free-market principles. Conversely, critics have decried the pardon as an endorsement of illegal activity and undermining the severity of drug-related offenses.

For more details, see the original articles from NPR and SCMP.