Ross Ulbricht speaks out following presidential pardon

Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road dark-web marketplace, has publicly commented on his recent release after receiving a pardon from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Ulbricht had been serving two life sentences plus an additional 40 years for his role in running the illicit online marketplace, which facilitated $183 million in drug sales using Bitcoin. The Silk Road platform was shut down by authorities in 2013, but Ulbricht was convicted in 2015 for his involvement in the site.

In a video message, Ulbricht expressed his profound gratitude towards President Trump for the clemency, describing his release as a life-altering experience. Having spent over 11 years behind bars, Ulbricht stated, “I was doing life without parole… but he let me out. I’m a free man now. So let it be known that Donald Trump is a man of his word.”

Ulbricht thanked Trump for giving him a second chance and emphasized how thankful he was for the opportunity to rebuild his life. He stated, “Thank you so much, President Trump, for giving me this amazing blessing. I am so, so grateful to have my life back, to have my future back.”

Looking ahead, Ulbricht shared plans to spend time with his family but hinted at addressing further matters in the future. He called his pardon not only a personal victory but a significant moment for freedom-loving people worldwide. He expressed, “It feels amazing to be free, to say the least. It’s overwhelming.”

Libertarians and cryptocurrency advocates had long supported Ulbricht, arguing that his punishment was an overreach by the government and that he had been unfairly prosecuted for actions committed by others. Ulbricht’s legal team contended that while he created the site, he transferred control of it soon after its inception and was later scapegoated as the authorities closed in on the operation.

Trump, who granted Ulbricht a full and unconditional pardon, referred to his punishment as “ridiculous,” noting that those behind his prosecution were involved in the broader political fight against him. However, U.S. prosecutors had portrayed Ulbricht as a mastermind behind a criminal empire, suggesting that his platform had led to multiple deaths and the solicitation of murders. Ulbricht was never convicted of any murder-related crimes, and no evidence of deaths linked to the site was presented at trial.

While Ulbricht’s pardon was celebrated by libertarians and some Republican figures, it sparked strong backlash from many Democrats. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, a prominent Democrat, condemned the pardon, criticizing Trump’s decision to absolve a figure tied to drug trafficking. Masto questioned how such actions could contribute to making America safer, calling the pardon “an outrage.”