Trump pardons six convicted of Clean Air Act violations

President Donald Trump announced on Friday, July 3, 2026, that he has granted pardons to six individuals convicted of violating the Clean Air Act by tampering with vehicle emissions controls. The president framed the pardons as a corrective to what he described as political persecution by the previous administration.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated he had signed the pardons for people who were "persecuted by the Biden Administration" and were "in, or being sent to, prison, for fixing their car." He called their prosecution an example of "weaponization and stupidity," adding, "I AM SETTING THEM ALL FREE, RIGHT NOW!" The White House did not immediately release the names of the six pardoned individuals.

The action follows earlier reporting that the president's clemency list would be limited to people prosecuted for installing or using "defeat devices," which bypass or disable emissions controls on vehicles, primarily diesel engines. This type of case has been a focus for Trump's clemency efforts; last fall, he granted clemency to a Wyoming mechanic who served prison time for similar violations.

A senior White House official confirmed the pardons relate to convictions under...