Trump Pardons Defendants Convicted of Vehicle Emissions Violations

On July 3, 2026, President Trump announced pardons for a group of people he said had been wrongfully prosecuted for "fixing their car," describing the cases as an act of "weaponization" by federal prosecutors. CBS News reported that at least six of those pardoned had been convicted of Clean Air Act violations tied to disabling or tampering with vehicle emissions controls; other outlets reported the clemency batch totaled roughly 11 people, most connected to emissions "defeat device" cases. The action followed a Justice Department decision earlier in 2026 to drop pending prosecutions and investigations involving aftermarket defeat devices.

The pardons extend a pattern of clemency directed at defendants and causes aligned with the president's political messaging, and they effectively nullify criminal enforcement against a specific set of environmental offenders.

The White House did not immediately release a full list of names; lawyers for several defendants confirmed the pardons to CBS News. Presidential clemency is final and not subject to judicial review.