President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he is granting full executive pardons to six individuals he claims are being unfairly prosecuted by the Biden administration. He stated the individuals were targeted merely for “fixing their car.” In a Truth Social post, Trump criticized past federal prosecutions, labeling them as part of the “Weaponization and Stupidity” of the previous administration. He declared, “I AM SETTING THEM ALL FREE, RIGHT NOW!”
These pardons support Trump’s broader initiative to defend the “right to repair.” Earlier this week, he signed a memorandum to make it easier for Americans to repair their vehicles by ensuring self-repair rights and expanding access to aftermarket parts. This initiative follows Trump’s previous efforts to simplify car repairs for the public.
Among those pardoned is Troy Lake Sr., owner of Elite Diesel Service Inc. Lake received a full pardon on November 7, 2025, nullifying his conviction in United States v. Elite Diesel Service, Inc. et al. Lake’s case involved federal environmental charges under the Clean Air Act. His company was accused of instructing employees to disable emissions control diagnostic systems on over 344 commercial trucks from January 2017 to December 2020.
Senator Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming discussed the case, criticizing what she called the “EPA overreach” in relation to Lake, a diesel mechanic. Lake had faced a sentence of over a year in prison and a $2,500 fine. His company was also put on five years of probation, fined $37,500, and required to make a $12,500 payment to a program aimed at repairing emissions systems for low-income drivers.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that Lake’s company conspired with other diesel truck garages to manipulate computers and hide emissions system faults. This led to an investigation that involved eight other garages across several states, resulting in fines and community service projects to mitigate environmental harm.
The Biden administration defended the prosecutions as crucial for safeguarding public health. Lance Ehrig from the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division accused the defendants of orchestrating a “large-scale conspiracy” that harmed air quality. Prosecutors cited studies indicating the tampered trucks emitted over 1,300 tons of excess pollutants.
Despite these actions, the Justice Department’s Office of the Pardon Attorney has not yet updated its records to reflect Trump’s recent pardons. The White House did not respond to requests for comment regarding these decisions.
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