Trump failed to deliver on ‘Day 1’ promise to pardon Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht

President Trump has not pardoned or commuted the prison sentence of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the anonymous marketplace website Silk Road, despite his promise on the campaign trail to free him on “day one.”

Ulbricht was convicted because his website, which was founded in 2011 and used cryptocurrency for payments, was used to sell illegal drugs, even though he himself did not sell any of the illegal drugs.

After being sworn into office on Monday, Trump issued several executive actions, including efforts to reduce immigration, designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a move to resume federal executions and pardons or commuting sentences to time served for people convicted in the 6th of January. 2021, Capitol Rebellion.

But Trump’s first day back in the White House ended with Ulbricht still behind bars without a pardon or commute from the president, who promised to do so last spring.

TRUMP PROMISES TO COMMUTE PRISON SENTENCE FOR SILK ROAD FOUNDER ROSS ULBRICHT

Members of the Libertarian Party stand in chairs as they chant and demand the release of Ross Ulbricht during the party’s national convention at the Washington Hilton on May 25, 2024 in Washington, DC (Getty Images)

In May, Trump gave a speech at the Libertarian National Convention to a hostile crowd of boos in an attempt to win over Libertarian voters. Libertarians believe that government investigators have overstated their case against Silk Road and generally oppose the war on drugs.

While attendees were not positive toward Trump for most of the event, they gave a big cheer when he said he would commute Ulbricht’s sentence to time served, as the crowd chanted “Free Ross” in hopes that the then-presidential candidate would take action if elected to allow the Silk Road founder to return home to his family after more than a decade behind bars.

“If you vote for me, on day one I’m going to commute Ross Ulbricht’s sentence to time served. He’s already served 11 years. We’re going to get him home,” Trump told the crowd of Libertarians, many of whom held signs, where it said “Free Ross.”

Ulbricht responded to Trump’s comments the next day on social media platform X.

“Last night Donald Trump promised to reverse my judgment on Day 1 if re-elected,” he wrote. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. After 11 years in prison, it is difficult to express how I feel at this moment. It is thanks to your undying support that I can have a second chance.”

Cards with images of President Donald Trump and Ross Ulbricht, creator of the Silk Road, displayed for sale at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville, Tennessee, Saturday, July 27, 2024. (Getty Images)

Last month, Ulbricht wrote: “For my last monthly resolution in 2024, I intend to study every day and get up to speed as much as possible as I prepare for freedom.”

Trump later repeated his promise to commute Ulbricht’s life sentence at a bitcoin conference, for which he received loud cheers.

Despite Trump not following through on his promise to release Ulbricht on his first day back in office, the president may still reportedly grant him clemency as early as Tuesday.

“Pres. Trump’s staff just confirmed to me that Ross’ pardon will be issued late tonight or tomorrow morning,” wrote Libertarian Party Chairwoman Angela McArdle on Monday evening the X.

Elon Musk, who serves in the newly created Department of Government Efficiency in the Trump administration, also said Ulbricht would be released soon.

“Ross will be freed,” Musk wrote on X.

Many Libertarians have said they supported Trump in the November election, citing in part his commitment to exonerate Ulbricht.

TRUMP LIKES ALMOST 1/6 OF THE CANDIDATES

Supporters of Ross Ulbricht, the alleged creator and operator of the underground Silk Road marketplace, stand before a Manhattan federal court on the first day of jury selection for his trial January 13, 2015 in New York City. (Getty Images)

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During his first term, Trump considered taking action to release Ulbricht before ultimately deciding on a pardon.

Ulbricht, now 40, ran the website from 2011 until his arrest in 2013. He was convicted two years later to life imprisonment.

“I was trying to help us move toward a freer and fairer world,” Ulbricht said from prison in 2021. “We all know the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and now I’m here. I’m in hell.”

“Trump is done signing EOs and pardons for the night,” wrote 2024 Libertarian presidential candidate Chase Oliver on X. “Hopefully we’ll see a #FREEROSSULBRICHT commute tomorrow.”