Thu Jan 23 04:02:22 IST 2025: ## Trump Pardons Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht

**Washington D.C.** – In a surprise move, former President Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the notorious dark web marketplace Silk Road. Ulbricht, who was convicted in 2015 on charges including drug trafficking, money laundering, and conspiracy, had been serving a life sentence.

Trump announced the pardon on Tuesday, stating that he had personally informed Ulbricht’s mother. He defended his decision on his Truth Social platform, claiming Ulbricht’s conviction was an example of government overreach perpetrated by “lunatics” who also targeted him. The former president had previously hinted at commuting Ulbricht’s sentence, courting libertarian voters ahead of the 2024 election.

Silk Road, operational from 2011 to 2013, facilitated the anonymous sale of illegal drugs, hacking tools, and stolen identities using Bitcoin. Prosecutors alleged the site generated over $200 million in sales and that Ulbricht solicited murders, although no killings were ever confirmed.

Ulbricht’s arrest in 2013 at a San Francisco library followed a sting operation by federal agents. At his sentencing, Judge Katherine Forrest described the site as Ulbricht’s “carefully planned life’s work” and handed down the life sentence, intended as a deterrent to similar activities. Despite this, similar dark web marketplaces have emerged since Silk Road’s closure.

The pardon has drawn mixed reactions. While Republican Congressman Thomas Massie praised Trump for keeping his word to Ulbricht’s supporters, the decision is likely to reignite debates surrounding government overreach, the role of dark web marketplaces, and the sentencing of cybercriminals. The Libertarian Party, which had actively campaigned for Ulbricht’s release, hailed the decision as a victory.

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