Roger Ver’s supporters called for mercy after Ulbricht’s apology

Elon Musk, the head of President Donald Trump's Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has decided to explore the pardon of ‘Bitcoin Jesus' Roger Ver.

This happened after US President Trump granted amnesty to Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht.

Elon Musk to “ask” for Roger Ver's Pardon

Ross Ulbricht's presidential pardon ignited a massive online campaign to secure a pardon for Roger Weir, another high-profile figure in the crypto arena. Ulbricht's full and unconditional apology was widely celebrated on Tuesday, BeinCrypto reported. Trump has called his previous two life sentences “ridiculous.”

Amidst the celebratory discussions, however, the focus quickly turned to Bitcoin Jesus. Ray Youssef, an executive at crypto platform Noonesapp, was among the first to call for Ver's release.

“Ross is free. A full unconditional apology was signed. thank god. “Don't forget Roger Vern and all the builders who went through hell,” said Youssef.

Roger Ver was a vocal supporter of Bitcoin Cash and an early supporter of cryptocurrency. He faces legal trouble for tax evasion. Nine months ago, US authorities accused Vere of owing $48 million in taxes on alleged export fraud.

Vere contested these charges two months ago, saying he relied on expert advice to ensure compliance with the law. The defense cited constitutional violations, including claims that they were denied the right to communicate with their legal team. Critics have argued that this represents overreach and a troubling precedent for the attorney-client privilege.

“Please see an apology to Roger Ver. Naomi Brockwell, founder of the Ludlow Institute, is a great example of the power of privacy and self-defense.

They also say circumstantial evidence was suppressed during the grand jury trial. Meanwhile. Angela McArdle, chairwoman of the Libertarian National Committee, expressed her support for Vere's release. Following these calls, Elon Musk said he would inquire about it.

“I'm asking,” Musk tweeted.

Vere's proponents argue that amnesty redresses perceived injustices and reinforces the principles of privacy and due process. The parallels with the Ulbricht case highlight the dangers of excessive sentencing and government overreach of the system. Together, these strengthened Vere's call for forgiveness.

Elon Musk's acknowledgment of the case has brought new attention to the case, which may increase the pressure for clemency. Many hope his platform will push DOGE and influential leaders to address what they see as an unfair precedent. This is in the midst of a broader campaign for freedoms essential to innovation and prosperity in the cryptocurrency space.

“Roger Weir deserves clemency to be freed from the malicious prosecution he still faces – 109 years of freedom for a crime he *obviously* did not commit. Pardoning Roger is the strongest signal the president can send that Biden's war on crypto is over. Please, President Trump, Free Roger Ver,” Brett Weinstein said in a sob.

Meanwhile, others see the Bitcoin Jesus case as a sign of the tension between individual liberties and government power.

“Also (probably) Roman Storm while you're at it, please Elon Musk. Publishing open source privacy tools is free speech – not an act to advance a conspiracy. No crimes committed by the software – developers shouldn't be held accountable for them, another user added.