As the January inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden looms, President Trump is set to issue another round of fresh pardons, with the possibility of one for Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road, a famous darknet drug market shut down by federal authorities leading to Ulbricht’s arrest.
In an exclusive report, the Daily Beast claims three individuals familiar with the matter have confirmed that Ulbricht’s case is currently undergoing review by the Trump administration.
According to said sources, Trump has privately said that he has sympathies with Ulbricht and could potentially pardon him. Behind the scenes, Ulbricht has reportedly used back channels close to the Trump family and administration in an effort to plea his case and ask for clemency.
While it is unknown at this time whether Trump will pardon Ulbricht, a pardon would draw considerable flak from Democratic opposition as has every other pardon Trump issued in the past.
“I’ve had documents forwarded to my contacts in the White House as early as February,” activist Weldon Angelos, a former music producer, and ex-federal inmate told the Daily Beast on a Tuesday interview.