In a move fulfilling a campaign promise, former President Donald Trump granted a full and unconditional pardon to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the now-defunct online marketplace Silk Road. Trump announced the pardon on social media, referencing Ulbricht's mother and the Libertarian movement's support for his campaign. He criticized those involved in Ulbricht's conviction, linking them to what he perceives as government overreach against himself. Ulbricht received two life sentences plus 40 years for his role in operating the Silk Road website, which facilitated the sale of illegal drugs using cryptocurrency.

The pardon follows Trump's appearance at the 2024 Libertarian National Convention, where he initially pledged to commute Ulbricht's sentence. The announcement was met with cheers and chants of "Free Ross" from attendees, many of whom held signs supporting Ulbricht's release. Ulbricht, who has served over a decade in prison, expressed gratitude for the support he received, which he credited with giving him a second chance.

While Trump didn't fulfill his initial promise to commute Ulbricht's sentence on his first day back in office, he granted the full pardon on the second day. Ulbricht, now 40, ran Silk Road from 2011 until his arrest in 2013 and subsequent life sentence in 2015. Though Ulbricht didn't personally sell drugs, his platform facilitated their sale, leading to his conviction. This pardon marks a significant decision by the former president, reflecting his alignment with some Libertarian viewpoints and his criticism of certain government actions.