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By Marni Rose McFall
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President Donald Trump has issued pardons for people he said were “persecuted” by his predecessor, former President Joe Biden.
“It is my Great Honor to have just signed Pardons for six people who were persecuted by the Biden Administration, and were in, or being sent to, prison, for ‘fixing their car,'” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“While I know this sounds ridiculous, it is nevertheless a fact, and part of the Weaponization and Stupidity that our Country had to endure during four long years of Sleepy Joe Biden. I AM SETTING THEM ALL FREE, RIGHT NOW!” he wrote.
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Clean Air Act Convictions Among Those Receiving Clemency
The pardons largely benefit business owners and truck mechanics who were convicted of violating federal emissions-control regulations, with the administration arguing they were unfairly targeted under environmental policies imposed during Biden's administration.
The pardons cover individuals involved in modifying or "tuning" trucks and other vehicles, including Joshua Davis, Matt Geouge, Jonathan Achtemeier, Tim Clancy, Ryan and Wade Lalone, Barry Pierce, Aaron Rudolf and Mackenzie Spurlock.
The administration said these individuals were prosecuted for bypassing emissions-control systems and said the enforcement actions were excessive, unnecessary and harmful to small businesses and workers in the auto industry.
News of the pardons from the White House followed Trump signing a memo on Monday that told the Environmental Protection Agency Americans can fix their vehicles, as they see fit.
Excessive Federal Regulation
In announcing the pardons, the White House said Trump had "relieved consumers from these regulatory burdens," framing the cases as examples of excessive federal regulation. Trump similarly argued on Truth Social that those convicted had been victims of the "weaponization" of government under Biden.
Among those receiving pardons were several individuals convicted of conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act through the sale or installation of equipment that bypassed vehicle emissions systems.
Federal prosecutors had previously argued that such devices increase harmful pollutants released into the atmosphere by allowing vehicles to operate without legally required emissions controls.
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Adam Kidan Pardoned
The clemency grants extended beyond emissions-related cases. Trump also pardoned Adam Kidan, a former business partner of disgraced Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Kidan pleaded guilty in 2005 to fraud and conspiracy charges connected to the purchase of a fleet of gambling boats and was sentenced to nearly six years in prison in 2006.
According to the White House, Kidan has since built a successful staffing business and maintained a productive post-conviction record.
Trump additionally pardoned ranch owner Jack Harvard. The White House cited Harvard's conduct since his conviction and praised him for allowing U.S. military and NATO personnel to train on his property at no cost.
The administration did not immediately provide further details about the offense for which he had been convicted.
What Is the Clean Air Act?
The Clean Air Act is the main federal law governing air pollution in the United States. First enacted in 1970 and significantly expanded in later decades, it gives the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authority to regulate pollutants from sources including factories, power plants and motor vehicles.
The law established national air quality standards and requires vehicle manufacturers to install emissions-control equipment designed to limit harmful pollutants released into the atmosphere.
Under the law, it is generally illegal to remove, disable or bypass federally required emissions-control systems on vehicles. Federal prosecutors have argued that aftermarket devices that allow vehicles to operate without those systems can substantially increase emissions of pollutants linked to respiratory illness, environmental damage and smog.
Latest Move in Trump's Broader Clemency and Deregulation Effort
The pardons are the latest in a series of clemency actions by Trump during his second term, which have frequently benefited allies, high-profile figures and individuals whose cases align with the president's broader criticisms of federal law enforcement and regulatory agencies.
The list includes January 6 Capitol Riot Defendants and anti-Abortion activists. Critics of the pardons have said that they amplify a narrative of political persecution and cast doubt on the legitimacy of the justice system.
More broadly, they underscore Trump's continuing effort to roll back environmental regulations that he and his supporters argue impose unnecessary burdens on consumers and small businesses.
Those in opposition argue that many of those regulations were designed to curb pollution, protect public health, and address the long-term economic and environmental costs of climate change.
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