Crypto Giants Plead for Trump to Pardon Ross Ulbricht, Julian Assange, and Edward Snowden
The crypto industry and prominent political figures are urging U.S. President Donald Trump to grant clemency to Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, alongside WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange and whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Ross Ulbricht’s Case: A Tale of Controversy
The Silk Road Saga:
- Silk Road, a darknet marketplace, was shut down by the FBI in October 2013 for facilitating the trade of illicit goods, including drugs, weapons, and stolen credit card data.
- In May 2015, Ross Ulbricht, its founder, was sentenced to two life terms without parole for his involvement in promoting drug trafficking.
Bitcoin Seizure:
In November 2020, the U.S. government seized over $1 billion worth of Bitcoin connected to Silk Road from a hacker referred to as “Individual X.”
Advocates for Clemency:
- Charlie Kirk, an American conservative activist, described Ulbricht as a victim of a dynamic Justice Department in a recent tweet.
- Jason Williams, co-founder of Morgan Creek Digital Assets, also pleaded with Trump to pardon Ulbricht and correct what many see as an overly harsh sentence.
Calls for Assange and Snowden Pardons
Julian Assange:
- The WikiLeaks founder is accused of plotting to collect and publish U.S. national defense data, including classified diplomatic cables and military documents.
- Assange’s supporters, including Tulsi Gabbard, a Democratic Representative, have urged Trump to release him, emphasizing his contributions to transparency.
Edward Snowden:
- The former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor turned whistleblower exposed mass surveillance programs in 2013 and sought asylum in Russia.
- Recently, Snowden announced his intention to apply for Russian citizenship while continuing to advocate for privacy rights.
Crypto Industry Unites in Advocacy
Prominent figures from the cryptocurrency space and beyond are rallying for clemency:
- Mike Cernovich, a right-wing commentator, has consistently pushed for mitigating Ross Ulbricht’s sentence.
- Politicians like Tulsi Gabbard have extended their appeals to include both Assange and Snowden, urging the President to act before leaving office on January 20, 2021.
Trump’s Clemency Record
As President, Trump holds the constitutional authority to pardon individuals convicted of federal crimes.
- Since 2017, Trump has granted clemency to 45 individuals, including high-profile cases.
- With his term ending soon, many are watching to see if he will extend clemency to Ulbricht, Assange, and Snowden.
Conclusion
The cases of Ross Ulbricht, Julian Assange, and Edward Snowden remain highly polarizing, highlighting tensions between law enforcement, transparency, and freedom in the digital age. As the cryptocurrency community joins political activists in advocating for their pardons, the spotlight is on President Trump to decide their fates before leaving office.
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