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Trump announces pardons for pollution violators prosecuted for "fixing their car"

From CBS News · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • President Trump announced pardons for six individuals prosecuted for tampering with vehicle emissions control equipment.
  • He described the prosecutions as an act of "weaponization and stupidity" by federal prosecutors.
  • The pardons follow a previous clemency granted to a mechanic and a Justice Department order to drop similar pending cases.

President Trump announced on Friday that he is issuing pardons to six individuals who were prosecuted for tampering with vehicle air pollution control equipment. Trump characterized the prosecutions under the Clean Air Act as an instance of "weaponization and stupidity" by federal prosecutors.

"I AM SETTING THEM ALL FREE, RIGHT NOW!," Trump declared in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. The White House had not immediately released the names of the individuals receiving the pardons.

Earlier on Friday, CBS News reported that Trump intended to pardon defendants involved in cases related to disabling emission control systems, often referred to as "defeat devices." This action follows a pattern of clemency from the president concerning environmental regulations.

Last fall, Trump granted clemency to Troy Lake, a mechanic from Wyoming who had served seven months in prison for violating federal emissions laws by disabling pollution controls on diesel engines. Furthermore, earlier this year, the Justice Department directed prosecutors to cease all ongoing prosecutions and investigations concerning aftermarket defeat devices.

I AM SETTING THEM ALL FREE, RIGHT NOW!

โ€” Donald TrumpAnnouncing pardons for individuals prosecuted for tampering with vehicle emissions control equipment.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CBS News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.