President Donald Trump announced his decision to grant a "full and unconditional" pardon to Ross William Ulbricht, the founder of the dark website 'Silk Road,' in a post shared on his Truth Social account Tuesday (January 21) night following an earlier reported by the New York Post.

"I just called the mother of Ross William Ulbricht to let her know that in honor of her and the Libertarian Movement, which supported me so strongly, it was my pleasure to have just signed a full and unconditional pardon of her son, Ross," Trump wrote. "The scum that worked to convict him were some of the same lunatics who were involved in the modern day weaponization of government against me. He was given two life sentences, plus 40 years. Ridiculous!"

A White House source had previously confirmed Trump's decision to the New York Post hours prior to his Truth Social post and claimed an executive action to grant Ulbricht clemency was "incoming."

“Ross Ulbricht and his family are deeply and eternally grateful to President Trump for his extraordinary act of grace in granting Ross a full and unconditional pardon. After enduring over a decade of incarceration, this decision offers Ross the opportunity to begin anew, to rebuild his life, and to contribute positively to society,” said Brandon Sample, Ulbricht's attorney, in an email to the New York Post. “This moment marks the end of a long and challenging journey for Ross and his loved ones, and they are overwhelmed with gratitude for this life-changing gesture of mercy and justice.”

Ulbricht was arrested in October 2013 and received a life sentence on drug trafficking and money laundering charges, which Trump vowed to reduce "down to time served" during his presidential campaign in May 2024. The 40-year-old was accused of running the notorious 'Silk Road' website, which was reported to have sold drugs and illegal products in exchange for Bitcoin payments, under the pseudonym 'Dread Pirate Roberts.'

Abby Bonell