US President Donald Trump has pardoned 11 people, most of whom were convicted of violating the Clean Air Act by tampering with or disabling emissions controls on diesel trucks.
The White House said all but two of those granted clemency had been prosecuted for offences linked to vehicle emissions, marking the latest use of Trump’s presidential pardon powers.
Announcing the move on his Truth Social platform, Trump defended six of the men, arguing they had been unfairly prosecuted during former President Joe Biden’s administration. “They were prosecuted under the Biden administration for fixing their car.”
Most of the pardons involved individuals convicted of modifying or disabling federally required emissions control systems on trucks, conduct prohibited under the Clean Air Act.
The pardons come months after the Trump administration rolled back key environmental regulations. In February, it repealed the scientific finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and scrapped federal tailpipe emissions standards for cars and trucks.
Among those receiving pardons was Adam Kidan, vice chairman of the Staffing Advisory Group, who was sentenced to prison in 2006 alongside Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff after being convicted of wire fraud.
Erizia Rubyjeana
