Trump pardons 11, including convicts in truck emissions, fraud cases

U.S. President Donald Trump pardoned 11 people on July 3, including several individuals convicted of violating federal emissions regulations by modifying or disabling pollution controls on diesel trucks, a White House official said.

Trump highlighted six of the pardons in a post on his Truth Social platform, saying the men had been prosecuted under former President Joe Biden's administration for "fixing their car," Reuters reports. 

Most of those pardoned had been convicted of violating the U.S. Clean Air Act, which prohibits tampering with vehicle emissions control systems.

The pardons come after the Trump administration rolled back several environmental policies. In February, it repealed a scientific finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and eliminated federal tailpipe emissions standards for cars and trucks.

Among those granted clemency was Adam Kidan, vice chairman of the Staffing Advisory Group. Kidan was sentenced to prison in 2006 alongside Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff after being convicted of wire fraud in a high-profile corruption case.

By Sabina Mammadli