US President Donald Trump has pardoned 11 individuals, most of whom were convicted of violating the Clean Air Act by tampering with or disabling emissions control systems on commercial trucks, according to a White House official.
The clemency grants, announced on Friday, were largely directed at defendants previously found guilty of modifying vehicle emissions systems, cases which had drawn political attention in recent years.
Reuters cited on Saturday that Trump also referenced several of the cases on his Truth Social platform, stating that some of those pardoned had been prosecuted under the previous administration for what he described as “fixing their car.”
Among those granted clemency was Adam Kinan, vice-chairman of the Staffing Advisory Group, who was previously sentenced to prison in 2006 alongside Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff in a wire fraud case.
The pardons come amid broader political debate in the United States over environmental enforcement policies, following recent moves by the administration to roll back certain federal emissions regulations.
Separately, the White House moved to dismiss circulating online claims suggesting that Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, commonly known as Jho Low, had been included in the pardon list.
Officials clarified that he was not among those considered in the latest round of clemency decisions, rejecting speculation that had emerged on social media and in unverified reports.
Malaysian authorities have maintained their long-standing position that efforts to locate and prosecute Jho Low in connection with the 1MDB scandal will continue regardless of developments in other jurisdictions.
The White House has not confirmed any connection between the latest pardons and broader proposals for large-scale clemency initiatives reportedly discussed in political commentary ahead of upcoming national commemorations. - July 4, 2026
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