President Donald J. Trump signed full and unconditional pardons for two Wasilla truckers Saturday, capping an Alaska homecoming rally with a direct rebuke of what he described as a weaponized Justice Department that targeted the state's way of life.
The two men, Zachary Czubac and Patrick Fleming, had been charged in connection with their trucking work. "And two other Wasilla truckers were also wrongly charged and I am pleased to announce that I am pardoning them too effective immediately," Trump told the crowd. "Their name is Zachary Shuba and Patrick Fleming, come on up here fellas, come on up here."
Trump tied the pardons to his broader case against the Biden administration's enforcement priorities. "Crooked Joe Biden and the weaponized Department of Justice also viciously targeted the Alaskan way of life," he said, before describing the raid on a third trucker's business that he also pardoned.
"You know that right here in Wasilla, they said to heavily armed 30 person tactical squad to raid the trucking business of a wonderful patriot named Mark Spurlock," Trump said. He described Spurlock as "a genius with engines" who "fixed diesel engines so the engines could survive the cold weather and drivers could not get trapped."
"But his fixes violated the Democrats, green, new scam because they don't want anyone touching the engines," Trump said. The president then announced that he had granted Spurlock a full pardon as well and called him to the stage.
A Direct Rebuke of the Prosecutions
Trump framed the charges against the three men as an absurdity that would not survive public scrutiny. "They want to put them in jail for ten years because they fixed an engine," he said. "Well I heard about it, I read the story about it and did a little check in and I am giving each one of the three an unconditional pardon."
He described the pardons as complete legal absolution. "That means you're as clean as a newborn babies," he said. "I never understood that, why is that so clean but they felt that was the definition of cleanliness and so you know well they will accept it."
Trump said the signings were something the previous president could not have done. "So I'm going to sign this now, something that Joe Biden would be unable to do because he was unable to sign this again," he said. "He would have to send it out for an auto panel."
One of the pardoned truckers, Patrick Fleming, spoke after the president signed the order and described the toll the prosecution took on his life. "This means the world to me. Everything, it really did destroy us, it destroyed friendships, it destroyed families," he said. "You know, we're not criminals, we're not trying to hurt anybody. We want to help Alaskans, we want to help people with diesel trucks, vehicles, you know, across the world."
Fleming thanked the president and immediately turned to the state's elections. "And, you know, President Trump is showing his support in this and from the bottom of my heart I can't think of enough," he said. "Come to the chase here and let's re-elect Dan Sullivan, let's re-elect Nick, let's get it done."
Trump said the scene was unlike anything he could recall. "Enjoy your lives, fellas. Crazy, ever heard of anything like that, they fixed an engine," he said. "Somebody has a bad engine, they bring it in to have it fixed and they go to jail for 10 years. This is a new one."
"You know, when I read the article, I thought it was like April Fool's Day or something," he added. "But it wasn't seriously sick people."
This is worth the eight hours in a plane. And don't forget I got eight hours going back too, give me credit for that."
Alaska Record Touted on Home Ground
The pardons came at the end of a rally in which Trump ran through a list of Alaska-specific actions his administration has taken, including a historic federal project to build the 800-mile Alaska LNG pipeline. "Two weeks ago, Dan stood with me in the Oval Office as we announced a historic federal project to finally build the 800-mile-long Alaska LNG pipeline," Trump said. "And that's the largest energy infrastructure project in the history of Alaska, one of the largest in the history of the United States of America."
Trump said all necessary federal permits are now secured. "And I'm pleased to report all necessary federal, we've got you every permit," he said. "I just told in backstage, every single permit that you need, you can start tonight. Every single permit that you need has been granted."
He also pointed to his Day One executive order on Alaska energy production. "Working with Senator Sullivan, I signed an executive order on day one, taking 51 actions to unleash Alaska energy production," Trump said. "I reopened ANWAR for energy exploration and development, which will bring billions and billions of dollars to your state."
On the Alaska National Petroleum Reserve, Trump said his administration had signed "the largest oil and gas lease sale in the history of Alaska National Petroleum Reserve" in March, and announced a new investment requested by the state's congressional delegation. "For this month at Senator Sullivan and Congressman Begich's request, my administration invested $150 million to build new electric transmission lines for the families along the Alaska Rail Belt, meaning 75 percent of Alaskans will soon have much cheaper and more reliable electors."
The White House framed the trip as a return to the Last Frontier "with a proven record of results that put Alaskans first: lower taxes, responsible development of the state's vast energy and mineral resources, safer communities, strong support for fisheries, and major investments that create jobs and reinforce America's Arctic security."
Trump also reminded the crowd of the stakes in the coming election, invoking the last Democratic administration. "But the last time the radical left had power, they gave us the worst inflation in American history, the highest energy prices in American history, the worst trade deficit in American history," he said. "But if you allow them to get office, regain office, if you allow them to win, they're going to do it all over again. You'll be right back where you were."
"The proud people of Alaska will, I hope never let that happen," he said. "GOD BLESS ALASKA!"
