Trump signs pardons for Alaska diesel mechanics onstage during rally touting major energy deals
President Donald Trump granted presidential pardons to two Alaska diesel mechanics on Tuesday night during a mid‑term rally in Wasilla, a town on the outskirts of Anchorage. The men, Zachary Czubak and Patrick Fleming, co‑owners of a diesel repair shop called Arm Rippin Toys, had pleaded guilty in 2022 to conspiracy for removing federally required emissions‑control equipment from a fleet of diesel trucks.
The pardon ceremony was staged on the rally’s stage, where Trump signed the clemency documents in front of the crowd. He also referenced a prior pardon he had issued to Mackenzie “Mac” Spurlock, a fellow diesel shop owner from Wasilla, and announced that the two men were receiving “unconditional pardons.” “What an honor. I love doing this stuff,” Trump said, adding that the presidential pardon power was a privilege he enjoyed.
Czubak and Fleming were part of a trio of Arm Rippin Toys owners who, according to the U.S. Justice Department, had removed emissions‑control devices and tampered with monitoring equipment on at least 37 diesel vehicles between July 2019 and September 2020. Prosecutors said the shop had collected roughly $100,000 for the modifications. The men’s guilty pleas came under the Biden administration’s enforcement of the Clean Air Act, which the mechanics and their supporters argue was overly punitive and targeted the trucking and repair industry.
During the rally, a co‑owner stepped onto the stage and spoke about the personal toll of the prosecution. “It really did destroy us. It destroyed friendships. It destroyed families,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion.
Trump used the event to critique what he described as the Biden administration’s “right‑to‑repair” crackdown. He said the mechanics’ work was vital to keeping trucks running in Alaska’s harsh winter temperatures, and that the federal prosecution was unfair. The president also used the moment to take a jab at former President Joe Biden, saying, “I’m going to sign this now, something that Joe Biden would be unable to do because he was unable to sign his signature.” He described signing the pardon documents as “something Joe Biden would be unable to do.”
Beyond the pardons, Trump outlined a broader vision for Alaska’s energy future. He announced that a long‑awaited 800‑mile natural‑gas pipeline would have every necessary federal permit, telling supporters that “every single permit that you need has been granted.” The rally highlighted other infrastructure projects, emphasizing that the administration would expedite permitting for energy ventures across the state.
The pardon announcement and energy speech were part of a larger mid‑term rally that drew thousands of supporters to Wasilla. While the mechanics’ convictions and the Biden‑era enforcement of Clean Air regulations drew criticism from environmental groups, the pardon was welcomed by those who view the men as victims of what they see as an overzealous regulatory push. The event underscored Trump’s continuing focus on energy policy and his willingness to use the pardon power to reward supporters and critics of his administration alike.
