section_path: Presidential pardon and release
section_name: Presidential pardon and release
paragraph_text: Presidential pardon and release
  
  On January 21, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump granted Ulbricht a full and unconditional pardon, following a promise at the 2024 Libertarian National Convention. Trump said of the pardon in a Truth Social 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. 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 released from a federal prison in Arizona that evening. Photos circulated on social media showing him reunited with his wife and family.
  
  Trump's pardon of Ulbricht was criticized by some in the press. The Nation wrote of the pardon: "It’s an especially telling irony given that Trump has also repeatedly advocated the death penalty for convicted drug dealers--and it’s doubtful anyone within the United States has trafficked in drugs on the scale that Ulbricht has."
  
  On January 21, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump granted Ulbricht a full and unconditional pardon, following a promise at the 2024 Libertarian National Convention. Trump said of the pardon in a Truth Social 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. 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 released from a federal prison in Arizona that evening. Photos circulated on social media showing him reunited with his wife and family.
  
  Trump's pardon of Ulbricht was criticized by some in the press. The Nation wrote of the pardon: "It’s an especially telling irony given that Trump has also repeatedly advocated the death penalty for convicted drug dealers--and it’s doubtful anyone within the United States has trafficked in drugs on the scale that Ulbricht has."