NEWS ALERT: Trump keeps promise, pardons founder of ‘Silk Road’ marketplace

0

For ads-free news, click here.

Today is January 22. Below are some of the stories grabbing headlines this morning. I hope you share this briefing as doing so will make you the smartest person in the room. And don’t forget to download the free DML App from the Google Play or Apple App Store to remain connected to me throughout the day.

From the Washington Post: President Donald Trump said he granted a pardon Tuesday to Ross Ulbricht, founder of the online marketplace Silk Road — a campaign promise Trump had made to libertarian voters. In a post on his Truth Social platform, the president said signing the pardon was his “pleasure” and called the life sentence Ulbricht was serving “ridiculous.”

The White House on Tuesday confirmed Trump had signed the pardon.

Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison in 2015 after being convicted on seven counts, including conspiracy and money laundering, related to the anonymous marketplace website he created that was used to sell drugs and other illegal goods.

Ulbricht, who was known online by the pseudonym “Dread Pirate Roberts,” a reference to a character in the 1987 movie “The Princess Bride,” created Silk Road in 2011. He operated the website until it was shut down by law enforcement authorities in 2013. Operating on the dark web, transactions on Silk Road were made using bitcoin, and Ulbricht was considered a pioneer in the use of cryptocurrency.

Ulbricht had been sentenced to life in prison without possibility for parole.

In a post on his Truth Social account Tuesday evening, Trump announced, “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. 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!”

Elon Musk then wrote on X, “I was honored to be in the Oval Office tonight when @POTUS signed this.”

Ulbricht had already received hope that Trump would pardon him.  He wrote on X in May, while still imprisoned, “Last night, Donald Trump pledged to commute my sentence on day 1, if reelected. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

“After 11 years in prison, it is hard to express how I feel at this moment. It is thanks to your undying support that I may get a second chance.”

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) announced Tuesday evening, “Ross Ulbricht has been freed by President Trump with a full pardon! Thank you for keeping your word to me and others who have been advocating for Ross’ freedom, Mr. President! #freeRoss.”

News host John Stossel wrote, “President Trump just pardoned Ross Ulbricht. Good. Ulbricht has served almost 10 years of a life sentence for creating the Silk Road website, where people bought and sold things the government didn’t like.”

Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter.)
The DML News App: www.X.com/DMLNewsApp

The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below, with the most recent on top. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

CLICK HERE FOR COMMENTS SECTION