President Donald Trump issued pardons Friday to 11 people, including former Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff's business partner, Adam Kidan, and nine individuals convicted in cases involving vehicle emissions systems.
Earlier in the day, Trump announced on social media that he had pardoned several people he said had been prosecuted for "fixing their car," declaring that they were being set free. The White House later released the full list of recipients, identifying nine of them as individuals charged with violating the Clean Air Act by disabling vehicle emissions monitoring systems or selling devices designed to bypass those systems.
The pardons follow a memo Trump signed earlier this week directing the Environmental Protection Agency to allow Americans greater freedom to repair and modify their own vehicles. The directive also addresses aftermarket auto parts and would limit California's authority to regulate parts that affect vehicle emissions. The White House said the move reduces regulatory burdens on consumers.
Among those receiving clemency was Adam Kidan, who pleaded guilty in 2005 to fraud and conspiracy connected to the purchase of a fleet of gambling boats. He was sentenced to nearly six years in prison in 2006 as part of the wider lobbying scandal involving Abramoff and later returned to the workforce after his release, eventually becoming president of Empire Workforce Solutions.
Trump also pardoned ranch owner Jack Harvard, citing his conduct following his conviction and recognizing his decision to allow U.S. military and NATO forces to use his property for training exercises at no cost. The White House did not provide additional details about Harvard's conviction.
The latest round of pardons adds to a growing number of clemency actions taken by Trump during his second term as he continues to make broad use of presidential pardon powers.
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