Key facts
- President Donald Trump granted pardons to 11 individuals.
- Nine of the pardons were for Clean Air Act violations related to vehicle emissions controls.
- Trump claimed these individuals were unfairly prosecuted by the Biden administration.
- Adam Kidan, a former business partner of Jack Abramoff convicted of fraud and conspiracy, was among those pardoned.
- Trump issued a memo to the EPA stating Americans can fix their own vehicles, impacting emissions standards.
President Donald Trump has issued pardons to 11 individuals, including nine who were convicted of violating the Clean Air Act by tampering with vehicle emissions control systems. Trump announced the pardons on his Truth Social platform, stating it was his "Great Honor" to set free six people he claimed were persecuted by the Biden Administration for "fixing their car."
The White House confirmed the list of 11 pardoned individuals, noting that the majority were related to Clean Air Act violations. This action follows Trump's recent memo to the Environmental Protection Agency asserting that Americans have the right to modify their vehicles' emissions controls, a move that would supersede the California Air Resources Board's authority.
Among the pardoned individuals was Adam Kidan, a former business partner of lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Kidan had pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges related to the purchase of gambling boats and was sentenced to nearly six years in prison in 2006. The White House described the emissions-related pardons as relieving consumers from regulatory burdens.