President Donald Trump has issued pardons for 11 individuals, including a former business partner of lobbyist Jack Abramoff and nine people convicted of violating vehicle emissions control laws. The clemency grants, announced Friday, continue a pattern of Trump issuing pardons to allies and politically aligned figures.
Trump had previously announced some of the pardons on social media, referring to the emissions-related cases as instances of people being "persecuted" and their cars being "fixed." The White House, in a list released Friday evening, described the pardons for the nine individuals as having "relieved consumers from these regulatory burdens."
These pardons follow a directive Trump signed earlier in the week, which informed the Environmental Protection Agency that individuals are permitted to repair their own vehicles as they see fit. This memo also pertains to aftermarket auto parts and could affect the California Air Resources Board's authority to assess parts that impact vehicle emissions.
Among those pardoned is Adam Kidan, who in 2005 pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges related to the acquisition of gambling boats. He was sentenced to nearly six years in prison in 2006. Kidan's case was part of a larger investigation into the lobbying activities of Jack Abramoff in the early 2000s. Kidan, after his release from prison in 2009, became involved in the staffing industry and now leads Empire Workforce Solutions. Newsday reported in March that Kidan was a host for a fundraiser at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort for a Republican congressional candidate.
Also receiving a pardon was ranch owner Jack Harvard. The White House cited an "upstanding record" since his conviction and noted his allowing U.S. military and NATO troops to train on his property without charge, though details of his specific conviction were not immediately released.
Trump's use of the presidential pardon power has been a notable aspect of his presidency, representing an expansive application of executive authority.