Michelino Sunseri, the mountain runner who was found guilty of cutting the course onto a closed part of Grand Teton in Wyoming during a world record attempt last September, has been given a pardon by President Trump on Monday.
The case drew headlines and raised question over the overuse of judicial power after Sunseri faced a misdemeanor charge that was punishable up to 6 months in jail, a park ban and a $5,000 fine after his attempt on September 2, 2024.
Sunseri believed he broke the speed record at Grand Teton by running up to the 13,775-foot peak — and down — in 2:50:10, which was nearly three minutes faster than the best known time but his mark was rejected by FastestKnownTime.com, which keeps a tally of similar records.
Days after the run he was informed that in his record attempt he broke National Park Service rules the barred visitors from veering off of specifically marked trails. Prosecutors then filed charges.
“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,” Pacific Legal Foundation attorney Michael Poon said in a statement. “We are ready to help other Americans who face criminal prosecution for breaking park rules that were illegally created.”
A documentary on Sunseri’s legal ordeal in the works and a record of his pardon will likely appear on the Trump administration’s clemency list in the coming days.
In a social media post on Monday, Sunseri thanked Trump and commented on the impact of the legal process he has undertaken in the past year.
“Seriously. You can’t make this stuff up. It’s only fitting that something this absurd from the start ends in an equally surreal way,” the post read. “And since I know the question’s coming — “How do you feel about being pardoned?” — here’s my honest answer: I’m absolutely, incredibly grateful. But, it never should’ve gotten this far.”
“This case was a massive waste of taxpayer money and government energy from the start — something that should’ve easily been resolved back in September 2024 when I offered community service to close the trail for good,” the post continued. “Unfortunately, instead of working with me, the system tried to make an example of me.”
