Ross Ulbricht: Trump pardons imprisoned founder of Silk Road underground drug marketplace

Last night, Donald Trump pledged to commute my sentence on day 1, if reelected,

he wrote

I am so, so grateful to have my life back, to have my future back, to have this second chance,

Ulbricht continued

Last night, Donald Trump granted me a full pardon,

he said on a video posted to Twitter on Thursday night

I was doing life without parole, and I was locked up for more than 11 years but [president Trump] let me out. I'm a free man now. So let it be known that Donald Trump is a man of his word,

Ulbricht said

This is a victory and it’s your victory, too. And this is an important moment for everybody, everywhere who loves freedom and who cares about second chances,

he said

100% of funds will go directly to Ross,

Kraken noted

His picture leaving the prison had him with a plant. Symbolizing – he kept his seed[s] phrases and Bitcoin has been growing,

suggesting Ulbricht kept his keys tucked away safely while he was in prison for over 11 years

The law currently says that a pardon does not erase the fact that a person was convicted, nor does a pardon effect civil liability to an individual or to the government,

Germain told Newsweek

It only affects the government's ability to impose or continue a criminal punishment,

he added

A pardon does not automatically entitle a criminal defendant to property that is seized or forfeited,

he said

I don't know what happened in Ulbricht's case to the seized bitcoin. If it was subject to civil forfeiture, the pardon should not allow him to get it back,

he said

A pardon usually has no effect on civil asset forfeiture laws. Because Ulbricht's conviction was final and his appeals were exhausted, and because Silk Road's assets were the subject of separate civil forfeiture proceedings, it's unlikely he will be able to recover his bitcoin notwithstanding Trump's pardon,

he said

Ross Ulbricht and his family are deeply and eternally grateful to President Trump for his extraordinary act of grace in granting Ross a full and unconditional pardon,

Sample told The New York Post

I'm so glad for Ross' pardon, he revolutionized the way to obtain any illegal drug on the internet, without fear of legal repercussion! What a pillar of society!"

one user joked

Ross Ulbright ran one of the biggest drugs marketplaces in the world. Why is this a good thing

one user commented under the Tesla CEO's tweet

He freed a guy who ran a platform on the dark web that sold drugs and guns. This is gross,

another user commented

Elon MuskspaceX CEO

You don't deserve this land,

the user told Musk

Angela McArdlea statement from Libertarian National Committee Chair

Ross Ulbricht has been a libertarian political prisoner for more than a decade. I'm proud to say that saving his life has been one of our top priorities and that has finally paid off."

Angela McArdle, the chair of the Libertarian National Committee, said

As I await my new life and freedom I just want to acknowledge you and thank you for your part in bringing about this wonderful outcome...my imminent release is as much of a victory for you as it is for me and my family."

Ross Ulbricht said in his letter to Massie

After enduring over a decade of incarceration, this decision offers Ross the opportunity to begin anew, to rebuild his life, and to contribute positively to society,

Sample said in a statement