President Donald Trump pardoned 11 people on Friday, a White House official told CNN, including several individuals who violated the Clean Air Act aimed at cutting down on emissions and improving air quality.
Trump announced earlier Friday that he signed pardons for six people who he argued were “persecuted by the Biden Administration” for violating clean-air and emissions laws.
“It is my Great Honor to have just signed Pardons for six people who were persecuted by the Biden Administration, and were in, or being sent to, prison, for ‘fixing their car.’” Trump posted to Truth Social, adding that he believes they were victims of a weaponized Justice Department. “I AM SETTING THEM ALL FREE, RIGHT NOW!”
The president met with senior officials earlier on Friday to discuss the slate of new pardons, a senior White House official told CNN.
Trump’s Justice Department had ordered federal prosecutors earlier this year to drop criminal investigations and abandon pending cases related to “defeat devices” — software used to bypass emissions controls.
