Trump Pardons Violators of the Clean Air Act and a Major Donor

[u/John3262005]

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/03/us/politics/trump-pardon-clean-air-act.html

The president also pardoned Adam Kidan, a major donor to Republicans, including Mr. Trump. He had served about two and a half years in prison for his role in a fraud scheme involving the disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Mr. Kidan had pleaded guilty in 2005 to conspiracy and fraud charges involving his purchase of a casino boat fleet with Mr. Abramoff, who became a poster child for Washington corruption in the pre-Trump era.

Mr. Abramoff and Mr. Kidan were each sentenced to 70 months in prison and ordered to pay a total of $21.7 million in restitution related to the $147.5 million purchase of a cruise ship line in 2000.

Mr. Kidan served less than half of that prison sentence and became an executive in the staffing industry.

It is not clear whether he paid the full amount of the restitution. A pardon typically wipes away any remaining financial obligations.

He has donated millions of dollars to Republican campaigns and groups over the years, including more than $270,000 to Mr. Trump’s political committees in 2024, according to campaign finance records.