Trump pardons drug kingpins even as he escalates U.S. drug war rhetoric

While addressing the Libertarian Party national convention in 2024, President Donald Trump promised to free Ross Ulbricht, a former tech entrepreneur incarcerated for creating a dark web site called Silk Road that was used by drug traffickers.  "If you vote for me, on day one I will commute the sentence of Ross Ulbricht," Trump said, sparking applause.

President Trump has promised to attack drug gangs and called for the death penalty for street dealers. But he has also pardoned more than 20 people serving time for serious drug crimes some involving violence.

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