- Trump promised to release Ross Ulbricht if he wins the upcoming US presidential election.
- Ulbricht is the founder of the defunct marketplace Silk Road and is currently serving a life sentence.
Former US President Donald J. Trump has promised to release Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht if he is re-elected US president in the upcoming election.
The former US president is seeking re-election and has made quite an impression on the cryptocurrency community over the past few months.
Now one of his election promises is that he will commute Ulbricht’s sentence as soon as he takes office.
“If you vote for me, I will commute Ross Ulbricht’s sentence to prison,” President Trump said at the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, D.C., on Saturday.
Who is Ross Ulbricht?
Ross Ulbricht, also known as Dread Pirate Roberts, created Silk Road in 2011 and ran the darknet marketplace until October 2013.
U.S. law enforcement accused Ulbricht of operating an online criminal enterprise. Prosecutors say Silk Road allowed the purchase and sale of $200 million worth of illegal drugs and other illicit goods and services.
He faces a total of seven charges, including money laundering conspiracy, drug trafficking and computer hacking.
Ulbricht, who was arrested in October 2013, was found guilty on all seven charges in 2015. The court sentenced him to two life sentences and a separate 40-year sentence without parole.
Many have criticized Ulbricht’s treatment and sentence, and calls for his release continue throughout the cryptocurrency community.
“He has already served 11 years. (And) we will take him home.” He added as the audience erupted in applause.
Trump wants America to lead cryptocurrency innovation
In addition to this promise, Trump also claimed that if elected, his administration would support the cryptocurrency industry and make the United States a global leader.
“Our country must become a leader in this field. There is no second place,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Trump also supports cryptocurrency self-management, noting that the vote of the more than 50 million Americans who currently hold cryptocurrency would be a vote to “keep Elizabeth Warren and her followers out of the people’s Bitcoin.” President Trump also plans to not allow U.S. central bank digital currency (CBDC).