Is the pardoned Silk Road founder getting more involved in US politics?

After being successful situation for much than 11 years for his engagement with the darknet marketplace Silk Road, Ross Ulbricht appears to person wasted nary clip making nationalist appearances.

In a March 4 X post, Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie said helium had invited Ulbricht to be a associated league of the US Congress, astatine which President Donald Trump gave a code connected his administration’s policies. The lawsuit marked 1 of the archetypal times the Silk Road laminitis appeared successful nationalist since his merchandise from situation successful January aft receiving a statesmanlike pardon from Trump.

Silk Road laminitis successful the US Capitol. Source: Ross Ulbricht

After leaving prison, Ulbricht regularly posted to societal media, thanking Trump and calling for clemency for “Bitcoin Jesus” Roger Ver, who faces taxation evasion charges. Some speculated that the president could see inviting Ulbricht to a March 7 crypto acme astatine the White House. However, astatine the clip of publication, helium did not appear to person been added to immoderate authoritative impermanent list. Cointelegraph reached retired to Ulbricht for remark but did not person a effect astatine the clip of publication.

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Ulbricht, who founded the Silk Road marketplace connected the acheronian web successful 2011, had been successful custody since his apprehension successful 2013 for allowing users to bargain and merchantability amerciable drugs arsenic good arsenic connection unlawful goods and services. He was sentenced to beingness successful situation without the anticipation of parole successful 2015, prompting immoderate of his supporters to petition for a statesmanlike pardon — apt 1 of the lone ways Ulbricht could person been freed. 

Are different statesmanlike pardons forthcoming?

Trump did not pardon oregon commute Ulbricht’s condemnation portion successful bureau from 2017 to 2021. However, a New York Times study suggested that the then-presidential campaigner promised to commute the Silk Road founder’s condemnation to appease libertarian voters successful the 2024 predetermination — though Trump won, it had been expected to beryllium a precise adjacent contention with then-Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

President Trump has the authorization to pardon oregon commute the condemnation of anyone facing national charges. Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, sentenced to 25 years successful prison successful 2024 for his relation successful misusing lawsuit funds, besides appeared to beryllium lobbying Trump for a pardon. His lawyers person filed a question to entreaty his condemnation and sentence.

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