Trump re-vows to “save” Ross Ulbricht

Former President Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to commuting Ross Ulbricht’s sentence, the man behind the Silk Road darknet marketplace.

In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump responded to Ulbricht’s remarks about starting his 12th year in prison, stating, “I will save Ross Ulbricht.”

• Ulbricht, creator of Silk Road, has been serving a double life sentence since 2013. Silk Road facilitated the sale of various illegal drugs, generating around $1 billion in Bitcoin.
• Trump had previously brought attention to this during the Libertarian National Convention in March, vowing to commute Ulbricht’s sentence if re-elected.

At the convention, Trump made his stance clear, saying, “And if you vote for me, on Day One, I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht.” Katherine Yeniscavich, a national committee member, voiced that this was something they had hoped for during Trump’s first term.

Ulbricht’s case, entangled in debates about justice reform, continues to draw attention, and Trump’s renewed focus could fuel further discussion as the 2024 election approaches. Meanwhile, Trump and Democratic rival Kamala Harris also appeared in a bipartisan ad supporting marijuana legalization in Florida.