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President Trump is expected to issue a pardon to Ross Ulbricht, founder of the notorious dark web site Silk Road, The Post has learned.
A source close to the White House said at midday Tuesday that the Ulbricht pardon was “incoming.”
Brandon Sample, Ulbricht’s clemency lawyer, told The Post in an email Tuesday: “We do expect President Trump to grant clemency.”
When asked for an update on the order’s progress, Sample mentioned the president’s promise made during his candidacy to release Ross on the first day in office. Sample expressed confidence that the president would fulfill this commitment, emphasizing Ross, his family, and supporters’ gratitude for President Trump’s act of mercy.
Trump, at 78 years old, made a public declaration in May that he planned to reduce Ulbricht’s life sentence relating to drug trafficking and money laundering to the time he had already served if he became reelected in 2024.
In October 2013, Ulbricht was apprehended in San Francisco and charged with operating the infamous website known for selling illegal goods, including drugs, and accepting bitcoin payments, all while using the alias “Dread Pirate Roberts.”
Now 40, Ulbricht was convicted in February 2015 on charges including drug trafficking and conspiracies to commit money laundering and computer hacking. He was sentenced that May to two life terms in prison, plus 40 years.
Ulbricht has unsuccessfully appealed his conviction and sentence up to the Supreme Court, leaving him to serve out his time at a maximum security prison in Arizona.
Trump’s campaign vow pleased many Libertarians, who champion Ulbricht as a pioneer of free markets and held up “Free Ross” signs as Trump spoke at their national convention.
The White House did not immediately respond to inquiries from The Post.
This is a developing story. Please check back for more updates.