The founder of the online drug market Silk Road appeared at the convention to thank President Trump for pardoning him last year.

"He felt compassion for me, because he too was the target of a weaponized government," said Ulbricht, who was convicted on seven counts including distributing narcotics and conspiring to launder money. Ulbricht said Trump promised to free him if he won re-election. "He kept his word and I walked out."

The marketplace Ulbricht set up hawked illegal goods ranging from cocaine to fake driver's licenses. Ulbricht insisted he created it to give people freedom to make their own choices about what they buy.

Ulbricht said he learned that "the machinery we built to protect ourselves from criminals can be turned around and pointed at people who have harmed no one." As he paused, one member of the crowd shouted: "Like the J-6ers!", a reference to the Capitol rioters who were also pardoned by Trump.