President Donald Trump pardoned two mechanics on stage Tuesday in Alaska, clearing them of their guilty pleas to violating environmental laws.
Stumping for Republicans in Wasilla, Alaska, Trump announced the pardons of Zachary Czubak and Patrick Fleming, a pair of Alaskan mechanics who had pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Air Act. Trump described the pardons as “unconditional.”
“That means you’re as clean as a newborn baby’s ass,” Trump told the crowd, later adding that the pardons were “worth the eight hours in a plane.”
After signing and handing Fleming his pardon on stage, Trump told the pair to say something to the crowd. Czubak called for the reelection of the state’s congressional Republicans, who had lobbied Trump for the pardons. Fleming thanked the president for his freedom.
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“This means the world to me,” Fleming said. “It really did destroy us.”
“We’re not criminals,” he added. “We’re not trying to hurt anybody. We want to help Alaskans.”
Trump also referenced Mackenzie Spurlock, another Alaskan mechanic who pleaded guilty to the same violation; the president pardoned Spurlock earlier this year.
Trump made the rare campaign stop in Alaska as the Republican Party makes its final push toward the midterms and politicians in the state hope for a boost in tough races.
Incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan has lagged behind Democratic challenger Mary Peltola in recent polls, while The Cook Political Report changed its outlook on Tuesday for the governor’s race in favor of Democratic candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins.
Kreiss-Tomkins, a former state lawmaker, is the only Democrat in the four-person race for governor. With three Republican candidates, there’s potential for support to splinter between them and hand the race to Kreiss-Tomkins.
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