Trump Frees Silk Road Creator Ross Ulbricht After 11 Years in Prison
According to a former government official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the White House considered freeing Ulbricht in 2020 but ultimately rejected the idea because of alleged violence in the case. The White House in 2020 considered freeing Ulbricht but ultimately rejected the idea because of the alleged role of violence in the case, according to one former government official involved in the process who spoke to WIRED on condition of anonymity.
Since then, however, the Trump administration has shifted its stance on Ulbricht’s case–in part, perhaps, due to its embrace of the libertarian cryptocurrency community, for whom Ulbricht has become a martyr and cause celebre. Then presidential candidate Trump pledged to commute Ulbricht’s sentence on “day one” of his reelection if he was reelected at the Libertarian National Convention held in Washington, DC last May. Day one ended with no clemency granted to Ulbricht. Trump, however, pardoned over a thousand participants of the January 6, 2020, insurrection in the US Capitol. Elon Musk, a Trump ally, promised on Monday night that “Ross would be freed as well.” Ulbricht did not acknowledge the harm caused by the Silk Road drug sales in his 2015 sentencing statement. Der-Yeghiayan is now the head of strategic Intelligence at cryptocurrency tracking firm Chainalysis. He says that the idea of Ulbricht being released does not bother him in the slightest. I am bothered by the perception that Ulbricht did not do anything wrong. This ignores the facts in the case. “Ross is more than done serving his time. He was a model inmate. He is a nonviolent, first-time offender. Alice Johnson, CEO at the justice reform foundation Taking Action for Good told WIRED that he poses no safety risk for the community. Johnson was sentenced to 20 years in prison for possession with the intent to distribute. Trump commuted that life sentence and pardoned Johnson in 2020. “I think that Ross’ case will pave the road for many other people who have been unfairly sentenced to these draconian terms to come home.”
On Wednesday night, Ulbricht supporters celebrated their freedom and expressed gratitude to Trump for clemency. The tweet by @Free_Ross – an X account dedicated to Ulbricht’s more than decade long effort – reads: “Words can’t express how grateful we feel.” “President Trump is true to his word, and he has just saved Ross’s live. ROSS IS FREE !!!!! “
Additional Reporting by Joel Khalili
