Trump pardons 11 convicted for Clean Air Act violations

President Donald Trump pardoned 11 people on Friday, most of whom were convicted for violating the Clean Air Act by tampering with vehicle emissions controls. Trump initially announced six pardons on Truth Social, claiming the recipients were "persecuted by the Biden administration" for "fixing their cars." Later, the White House released a list of 11 names, including Joshua Davis, Matt Geouge, and Jonathan Achtemeier Source: CNN.

The pardons

The 11 individuals were convicted for manufacturing and installing "defeat devices" that disabled emissions controls, often in diesel trucks. Some were also convicted for tax evasion. The cases were originally pursued by the Department of Justice under President Joe Biden. In early 2026, the DOJ under Trump ordered federal prosecutors to drop all pending investigations and cases related to these devices Source: Infobae.

Trump framed the pardons as correcting a political weaponization of the Justice Department, while critics note that the recipients were convicted of serious environmental crimes. The move comes amid a severe heatwave in the U.S., which scientists say is made more likely by burning fossil fuels Source: Diario Libre.