The creator of underground black market Silk Road, Ross Ulbricht, was surprisingly pardoned by former President Donald Trump. He had been sentenced to life for his role as a founder of the platform, which let people buy and sell illegal goods, including drugs. Many are asking: why did Trump pardon Ulbricht and what does that mean moving forward?
Who is Ross Ulbricht?
Silk Road was started in 2011 by Ross Ulbricht. The website let people trade illegal items, but it lets people trade anything without government control. In 2013 Ulbricht was arrested and sentenced to life in prison for drug trafficking, conspiracy and money laundering. His supporters claimed his punishment was too harsh, and that nobody died as a result of operations on the Silk Road.
Why Did Trump Pardon Ulbricht?
Many were surprised when Trump decided to pardon Ross Ulbricht. Others think Trump did it because of Ulbricht’s massive fanbase that think his sentence was unfair and much too harsh. But they argue that Ulbricht is a young man who made a mistake and shouldn’t be locked up for life. It also notes that he didn’t hurt anyone directly, unlike others who receive lesser sentences than others.
Some view this pardon as something bigger, as part of Trump’s overall goal of criminal justice reform. During his presidential tenure, Trump also worked at lowering sentences for nonviolent offenders. This pattern seemed to fit Ulbricht’s case. Trump had already supported people who felt they had been mistreated by the justice system.
What Does This Pardon Mean?
It has caused a lot of debate. There are those that feel Ulbricht should spend the entire sentence because it is a deterrent, so even if you’re doing it in the digital world you’ll suffer repercussions for breaking the law. Some say his punishment was too harsh and that it’s one more example of unfair sentencing in the justice system.
Freedom and limited government control, say Ulbricht’s supporters, is upheld with the pardon. They also say the case demonstrates how the legal system has problems keeping pace with technological changes like online markets.
What Happens Now?
That’s made many people think about how the laws should change as technology moves forward. At the same time it poses a whole host of questions about how a society should deal with crimes that occur online.
Though some say the pardon is a move in the positive direction, others are concerned that it might send the wrong message about breaking the law.
It’s unclear how the public and lawmakers will respond to this controversial decision next.
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