Trump Pardons Silk Road Black Market Founder Ross Ulbricht, Rails Against ‘The Scum That Worked To Convict Him’

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President Donald Trump issued a “full and unconditional pardon” to Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the Silk Road dark web black market, Tuesday.

“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,” announced Trump in a statement. “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!”

Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison in 2015 after being charged with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, aiding and abetting the distribution of narcotics, and conspiring to commit money laundering, among other crimes.

Between 2011 and his arrest in 2013, Ulbricht had operated the dark web black market known as Silk Road, which allowed anonymous users to purchase goods without a trail, including illegal items such as drugs.

While Ulbricht did not sell drugs himself, his website facilitated their sale and purchase and allowed users to sort through listings based on drug type, with categories such as “Opioids,” “Stimulants,” and “Prescription.”

“Make no mistake: Ulbricht was a drug dealer and criminal profiteer who exploited people’s addictions and contributed to the deaths of at least six young people,” said then-New York Southern District U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara at the time of Ulbricht’s sentencing. “Ulbricht went from hiding his cybercrime identity to becoming the face of cybercrime and as today’s sentence proves, no one is above the law.”

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) – a vocal defender of Ulbricht – celebrated the pardon on Tuesday.

“Ross Ulbricht has been freed by President Trump with a full pardon!” he wrote. “Thank you for keeping your word to me and others who have been advocating for Ross’ freedom, Mr. President! #freeRoss.”

Trump promised to free Ulbricht during a speech at the Libertarian National Convention last year.

“If you vote for me on day one, I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht to a sentence of time served,” he vowed. “He’s already served 11 years. We’re gonna get him home. We’re gonna get him home.”