On Friday, President Donald Trump issued full executive pardons for six individuals who claim they were “persecuted” by the Biden administration simply for “fixing cars.”
In a post on Truth Social that afternoon, Trump criticized federal prosecutors, describing them as part of the previous administration’s “weaponization and stupidity,” and demanded, “Release them all now!”
This action aligns with Trump’s ongoing support for the “right to repair.” Earlier that week, he had signed a memo aimed at easing the process for Americans wanting to repair their vehicles, which included protecting self-repair rights and expanding access to aftermarket parts.
During a news conference in the Oval Office, Trump expressed his concern, saying, “I became aware of this because I noticed that we were arresting people for fixing cars. We will govern with common sense.”
The pardons appear linked to a federal environmental lawsuit involving Elite Diesel Services and its owner, Troy Lake Sr. Lake received a complete pardon on November 7, 2025, clearing his conviction related to the case against Elite Diesel Services.
According to a federal plea agreement, it was revealed that Elite Diesel had instructed workers to disable diagnostic systems on numerous large commercial trucks from 2017 to 2020. These systems are necessary under the Clean Air Act for monitoring emissions control.
Lake had been sentenced in December 2024 to over a year in prison and fined $2,500. His company was sentenced to five years’ probation along with significant fines aimed at funding emissions system repairs for low-income drivers.
Further claims from government prosecutors indicated that other diesel truck repair shops partnered with Elite Diesel to hide emissions failures, resulting in an extensive investigation by the EPA which impacted several states and led to substantial fines and community service projects.
During this time, officials from the Biden administration maintained that such prosecutions were crucial for public health. Lance Ehrig, an EPA special agent, had characterized the actions of those involved as a “massive conspiracy” against air quality, with damage quantified in tons of excess pollutants released.
The Department of Justice’s Office of Pardon Counsel has yet to update its records to reflect the pardons announced on Friday. The White House did not provide immediate comment on the matter.
