Trump Pardons Diesel Mechanics at Alaska Rally

Former President Donald Trump issued pardons to two diesel truck mechanics at a midterm election rally in Wasilla, Alaska, on Tuesday, stating they had been "wrongfully charged" during the Biden administration. The pardons were for Zachary Czubak and Patrick Fleming.

Trump signed the pardons midway through his rally for Senator Dan Sullivan and Representative Nick Begich. "They wanted to put them in jail for 10 years because they fixed an engine. How sick," Trump remarked from the stage. He added that he had investigated the case and decided to grant unconditional pardons.

White House aide Natalie Harp presented the pardon documents to Trump for his signature. Upon signing, Trump quipped about the meaning of a pardon, suggesting it makes one "as clean as a newborn baby’s ass."

Czubak and Fleming were invited on stage to receive the signed pardons and address the crowd. Fleming expressed his gratitude, stating, "This means the world to me. It’s everything." He continued, "We’re not criminals. We’re not trying to hurt anybody. We want to help Alaskans. We want to help people with diesel trucks, with vehicles, you know, across the world, and President Trump is showing his support in this, and from the bottom of my heart, I can’t thank him enough."

Both Czubak and Fleming had pleaded guilty in 2022 to one count of conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act. According to the Biden Justice Department, between July 2019 and September 2020, they allegedly tampered with federally mandated monitoring devices on at least 37 private and commercial diesel vehicles and removed required air pollution control equipment.

Fleming was fined $66,000, and Czubak received a sentence of five years' probation and was also fined $66,000. As the two men left the stage, Trump told them, "Enjoy your lives, fellas," and referred to the charges against them as "crazy."