President Trump issued a pardon Monday for a trail runner who faced criminal charges after taking a brief detour on a prohibited trail while attempting to break a speed record on Wyoming’s tallest mountain.
Michelino Sunseri, 33, made history on September 2, 2024, when he ran up and down the 13,775-foot-tall Grand Teton peak in a record-breaking time of 2 hours, 50 minutes and 50 seconds.
During his descent, Sunseri took a shortcut to avoid casual hikers on the trail. However, going off-trail in a national park is prohibited due to erosion concerns.
Federal prosecutors pursued criminal charges against the athlete for the detour. Sunseri was convicted of a misdemeanor in September for using the unauthorized cut-through.
The runner expressed disbelief and gratitude on Facebook after receiving presidential clemency.
“Well… the trail trial of the century is officially over,” Sunseri posted following the announcement.
“In an unbelievable twist that even Hollywood couldn’t write, I woke up this morning to find out I’ve been given a PRESIDENTIAL PARDON from Donald J. Trump — over the Grand Teton FKT and my use of the Old Climber’s Trail,” he wrote.
Sunseri criticized the federal government’s handling of his case. “This case was a massive waste of taxpayer money and government energy from the start,” Sunseri wrote.
“Unfortunately, instead of working with me, the system tried to make an example of me,” he added.
Before receiving the presidential pardon, prosecutors had reached an agreement with Sunseri.
Federal prosecutors had agreed to seek dismissal of his case if Sunseri completed 60 hours of community service and a course on wilderness stewardship, the runner’s attorneys told the Associated Press.
The Pacific Legal Foundation, which provided legal defense for Sunseri, celebrated the pardon.
Michael Poon, an attorney for the organization, released a statement praising the outcome.
“We are thrilled that Michelino’s nightmare is over, but we’re not done fighting against unconstitutional regulations that give low-level park officials the power to criminalize harmless conduct,” Poon said.
The legal foundation indicated its intention to continue challenging federal park regulations. “We are ready to help other Americans who face criminal prosecution for breaking park rules that were illegally created,” the statement said.
Other notable pardons from Trump this year include the president granting full pardons to at least 77 individuals connected to events following the 2020 presidential election.
Trump characterized the pardons Sunday night as “full, complete, and unconditional,” Resist the Mainstream highlighted.
Prominent figures named include Rudy Giuliani, ex-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and attorneys Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis, John Eastman and Christina Bobb.
Trump issued a pardon Friday to former Major League Baseball star Darryl Strawberry for his 1995 federal tax evasion conviction.
He granted full pardons Thursday to former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his former chief of staff, Cade Cothren, both previously convicted on federal corruption charges.
Resist the Mainstream reported last week that the White House framed the decision as correcting what it described as “significant over-prosecution” by the Biden Justice Department (DOJ) for a relatively minor issue.
