Grand Theft America / Receipt money-2025-01-21-005
Trump pardons Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht
Trump granted a full and unconditional pardon to Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road dark-web marketplace, on his second day back in office.
What happened
Ulbricht was convicted in 2015 of narcotics distribution, criminal enterprise, computer-hacking conspiracy, and money-laundering conspiracy, and was serving life without parole. Trump had promised the clemency at the 2024 Libertarian National Convention while courting crypto-industry support; the crypto sector spent more than $100 million to influence the 2024 election. Those expenditures went to campaigns and PACs, not to Trump personally, so no take figure is counted.
Why it matters
Trump pardoned Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, having promised clemency at the 2024 Libertarian convention while courting crypto donors and voters. Delivering a promised pardon to a constituency he was actively soliciting raises concerns about clemency used as political currency.
Receipt details
- Trade the pardons
- No cash figure
