On Friday, former President Donald Trump granted pardons to a total of 11 individuals, including 9 people convicted of violating the Clean Air Act. This announcement was made via a post on his Truth Social platform, where Trump described these individuals as having been "persecuted" under the Biden administration for attempting to "fix their car."
Details of the Clean Air Act Pardons
Among those pardoned, nine individuals faced charges for disabling emissions monitoring systems on vehicles or for selling devices that facilitated the bypassing of emissions regulations. The White House provided a detailed list of these pardons, which were characterized as necessary corrections to what Trump called excessive government regulation.
In a memo signed on the same day, Trump instructed the Environmental Protection Agency that US citizens should have the right to modify their vehicles as they see fit. He referenced a diesel mechanic he pardoned last year who had also disabled emissions monitoring systems.
Notable Figures Included in the Pardons
One of the notable individuals pardoned is Adam Kidan, a former business partner of the notorious lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Kidan was previously imprisoned for wire fraud and conspiracy related to a gambling boat operation. He served time alongside Abramoff and was released in 2009.
