I remember when conservatives were against criminal drug operations and stood for law and order. However, it appears that conservatives have wittingly or unwittingly rewired their brains to embrace a lawless leader in exchange for what? I would like to understand the morality of their new allegiance to criminality.
Democrats and Independent politicians have committed crimes, but the MAGA Army has taken state-sponsored criminality to a new level.
This is what MAGA voters have bought in exchange for their new version of law and order:
From “Congratulations, Trump Voters! You’re in! Sell drugs, weapons, and hacking services with impunity. But payment better be in Bitcoin!”
By Peter Sassi in Medium, March 9, 2025
On the campaign trail, President Trump promised to pardon someone named Ross Ulbricht. He delivered on that promise on January 21st. Promise kept!
Mr. Ulbricht started a dark website called Silk Road, on which he sold drugs, weapons, and hacking services. His activity was linked to six drug-related deaths. He also hired people to threaten those who countered his dark web activity. The site exclusively accepted Bitcoin for payment. The FBI documented that the site generated billions in revenue. Mr. Ulbricht was arrested, and an impartial jury found him guilty. A judge sentenced him to 2 life terms, plus 40 years.
The Pardon
The pardon matters because it signals that drug and weapon convictions are okay, as they can be swept off the books as though no criminal behavior ever occurred.
Remember, the President can choose between commuting a sentence — which essentially shortens a sentence while keeping the conviction in place — and a “full and unconditional pardon” — which exonerates someone of any wrongdoing. The President chose a pardon for this convicted drug and weapons dealer.
There are layers to this, of course, one of which is that President Trump has been known to call for the death penalty for drug dealers because they can cause deaths. In this case, Ulbricht’s dealing was linked to 6 deaths. Instead of demanding the death penalty in this case, President Trump granted freedom.
Another layer is that the President has recently fully embraced crypto, including launching his own coin days before his inauguration, as did his wife Melania. Trump became a crypto billionaire. And quickly.
Ulbricht is a libertarian and crypto hero, and President Trump promised this community that he would pardon Ulbricht if they voted for him. They did, and he did.
The photo is from https://theconversation.com/how-a-virtual-mob-boss-from-texas-became-the-new-face-of-organized-crime-43685