Trump Moves to Pardon Environmental Lawbreakers in Administration’s Regulatory Rollback

President Donald Trump is expected to issue a new round of pardons this Friday for individuals convicted of federal emissions-related offenses as his administration continues rolling back environmental enforcement it has characterized as excessive government regulation.

Trump was scheduled to meet with advisers on Friday afternoon to review clemency recommendations, according to sources. The proposed pardon list is expected to focus on convictions under the Clean Air Act.

A White House official stated, “President Trump is the ultimate decider on any clemency-related actions.”

The anticipated pardons would build on the administration’s broader effort to ease criminal enforcement of emissions violations involving diesel vehicles and other environmental regulations.

Trump is also weighing high-profile clemency requests, including one from music producer Sean “Diddy” Combs. Sources indicated that Trump has privately discussed granting Combs a pardon but had not reached a decision by Friday morning. One source noted that neither Combs nor other celebrity cases were expected to be included in the White House pardon team’s recommendations.

Combs is serving a federal prison sentence of just over four years at Fort Dix, New Jersey, after being convicted last year on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He was acquitted of more serious charges involving sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

In January, Combs wrote to President Trump requesting a pardon, though the president stated he was not considering it.

Additionally, Grammy Award-winning rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel of the Fugees is seeking clemency. He is serving a 14-year federal prison sentence after being convicted of conspiring with Malaysian financier Jho Low to conduct foreign lobbying campaigns aimed at influencing U.S. government policy.

Federal prosecutors have accused Low of helping embezzle $4.5 billion from Malaysia’s 1MDB sovereign wealth fund. Sources reported that Low is also pursuing a presidential pardon, though Trump has not yet decided whether either man will receive clemency.

The expected Clean Air Act pardons follow several moves by the Trump administration to reduce environmental prosecutions. Last year, Trump pardoned Wyoming mechanic Troy Lake, who had served seven months in prison for violating federal emissions laws after disabling pollution-control equipment on diesel engines.

Attorney Stewart Cables stated Friday, “We think this type of case is an example of government overreach. That’s why we are trying to get these pardons.”