Will Donald Trump Pardon Ross Ulbricht?

Trump’s re-election could bring justice to the unjustly imprisoned Ross Ulbricht

Political prisoner Ross Ulbricht believes that the re-election of Donald Trump could lead to his eventual release. 

In a tweet that he posted on November 12, 2024, Ulbricht said the following: 

“Immense gratitude to everyone who voted for President Trump on my behalf. I trust him to honor his pledge and give me a second chance.

After 11+ years in darkness, I can finally see the light of freedom at the end of the tunnel. Thank you so much, @realDonaldTrump” 

Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie responded to the Ulbricht’s tweet: 

“Hang in there Ross. President @realDonaldTrump himself told me that he would. It’s one of the reasons I endorsed him.”

Massie endorsed Trump on October 25, 2024 declaring he was “honored” to endorse the Republican candidate.  

“Donald Trump will put Americans first by securing our liberties at home and preventing needless wars abroad. He will Make America Great Again by empowering small farmers and taking on special interests that have corrupted our healthcare system,” Massie declared in a Twitter/X post. 

“He has even committed to freeing Ross Ulbricht who was wrongfully sentenced,” he added. Earlier in 2024, Trump promised to commute Ulbricht’s sentence.  Ulbricht founded the darknet market website Silk Road in 2011, which he operated until 2013 — when he was arrested. Ulbricht ran the website under the pseudonym “Dread Pirate Roberts” and was eventually arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2013. The Silk Road was subsequently taken offline. 

In 2015, Ulbricht was convicted of engaging in continuing a criminal enterprise, drug distribution, distributing drugs via the Internet, conspiracy to distribute drugs, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to traffic fraudulent identity documents, and conspiracy to commit computer hacking. Ulbricht received life in prison sentence without the chance of being paroled. 

Ulbricht is unjustly being imprisoned. Let’s hope Trump follows through with his campaign promise to pardon Ulbricht and allow him to return to regular, civilian life as a peaceful productive citizen.