Trump Issues Pardons for Six Individuals Involved in Right-to-Repair Case

On July 3, 2026, President Donald Trump announced full executive pardons for six individuals he claims were prosecuted by the Biden administration for repairing vehicles. Trump made the announcement via a post on Truth Social, stating that he was 'setting them all free' and criticizing the federal prosecutions as part of the 'Weaponization and Stupidity' of the previous administration. The pardons are connected to a broader initiative by Trump to support the right to repair, which includes a recent presidential memo aimed at facilitating vehicle repairs by protecting self-repair rights and allowing the use of aftermarket parts. The pardons appear to be linked to a federal environmental case involving Elite Diesel Service Inc. and its owner, Troy Lake Sr., who was previously convicted for disabling emissions control systems on commercial trucks. Lake received a full pardon for his conviction, which had resulted in a prison sentence and fines. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had argued that the actions of Lake and his co-conspirators contributed to significant air quality issues, with a study indicating that the tampered trucks released over 1,300 tons of excess nitrogen oxides and other pollutants.