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Donald Trump has pardoned a trail runner who briefly took a closed trail on his way to a record time on the tallest peak in the Teton Range of western Wyoming.
The pardon for Michelino Sunseri, unlike recent ones for Trump allies, appeared apolitical.
“Michelino is pleased, of course, but nobody expects a pardon,” Sunseri’s attorney, Michael Poon, told Outside. “He shouldn’t have had to go through this ordeal to begin with. It’s not a case that should have ever been brought to trial.”
Poon said the Pacific Legal Foundation had lobbied White House officials on Sunseri’s behalf but had not met with Trump directly.
Sunseri ran up and down Grand Teton, the 13,775ft centerpiece of the Teton Range, in two hours, 50 minutes and 50 seconds in 2024. It was an epic feat: The 33-year-old’s run covered 13.3 miles, gaining 7,000ft in elevation, then back down again in Grand Teton National Park.
But on the way down, Sunseri left a switchback to avoid hikers. Going off-trail in a national park is generally forbidden because it can cause erosion to sensitive environments.
Sunseri, who admitted taking the two-minute detour after it was revealed by his GPS tracker, received a misdemeanor conviction from a judge in September. Fastest Known Time, which oversees trail running records, also voided his time because of his shortcut.
Sunseri received widespread online support after his conviction and appeared on various podcasts telling his story. The hashtag “Free Michelino” also became prominent among the trail running community on social media.
“There’s been a lot of media around this case,” Poon said. “I suspect that it caught the eye of the officials in charge of the pardon process.”
Before the pardon, prosecutors agreed to seek dismissal if Sunseri completed 60 hours of community service and a course on wilderness stewardship, according to Sunseri’s attorneys. He had originally faced a fine of $5,000 and a lifetime ban from Grand Teton National Park.
