REBECCA NOBLE / Getty Images via AFP
Donald Trump, here on December 22, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona, pardoned drug kingpin Ross Ulbricht, creator of the illegal website “Silk Road.”
UNITED STATES – The online platform generated $200 million from the sale of narcotics. After the Capitol riots, Donald Trump pardoned the creator of the illegal site “Silk Road” Ross Ulbricht this Wednesday, January 22. The 40-year-old man had been serving a life sentence since 2015 for drug trafficking and illegal business operations.
Far from being limited to the sale of drugs all over the world, the “Silk Road” site, created in January 2011, allowed the trade of numerous illegal goods on the « darkweb »before being closed by the American federal police (FBI) in October 2013. Its founder was also accused of having ordered no less than five murders.
“I have just called the mother of Ross William Ulbricht to let her know that in her honor and that of the libertarian movement, which has supported me so ardently, I have the pleasure of signing a total and unconditional pardon for her son »welcomed the new president on his social network Truth Social.
A long-standing demand of libertarians
This pardon from the drug king was indeed a campaign promise from Donald Trump. The Republican tribune had promised to release him during a speech in May to the convention of the Libertarian Party, a fringe movement that advocates individual freedoms and a minimal role for government.
-Ulbricht’s case became famous in these radical circles, who denounced his conviction as an attack on free market principles. This pardon comes as Donald Trump had made law and order pillars of his electoral campaign, constantly accusing Democrats of being soft on delinquency and crime.
The release of Ross Ulbricht is also yet another boost from the Trump administration to the bitcoin sector. Speculation about the presidential pardon has reached heights on the Polymarket platform where users bet on events with cryptocurrency.
Also see on HuffPost :
Reading this content may result in cookies being placed by the third-party operator who hosts it. Taking into account the choices you have expressed regarding the deposit of cookies, we have blocked the display of this content. If you wish to access it, you must accept the “Third Party Content” category of cookies by clicking on the button below.
Play Video
