President Donald Trump pardoned two Alaska auto shop owners onstage at a campaign rally in Wasilla on Tuesday night, CBS News reported. CBS called it an unusually public use of the president's power.

The men, Zachary Czubak and Patrick Fleming, had pleaded guilty in 2022 to conspiring to break the Clean Air Act, both CBS and Fox News reported.

They co-owned a diesel repair shop in Anchorage called Arm Rippin Toys, Fox News said. Prosecutors said they removed emissions controls and tampered with monitoring devices on at least 37 diesel vehicles, and took in about $100,000 for the work.

They were each sentenced to five years of probation, $66,000 in fines and community service, CBS reported.

Trump called the men to the stage and said, "Bring me the pardons!" CBS said. He signed them at the podium.

"Think of it: They want to put them in jail for 10 years because they fixed an engine. How sick?" Trump said, according to CBS. He said the Biden Justice Department had "viciously targeted the Alaskan way of life."

Fox News reported that Trump said the men's work helped keep trucks running in Alaska's extreme cold. A third co-owner, Michael Hanzuk, was pardoned last month, CBS said.

"We're not criminals. We're not trying to hurt anybody," Fleming told the crowd, CBS reported.

Under Biden, officials warned that removing emissions controls "results in a massive increase in air pollution from even a single vehicle," CBS said. In January, Trump's Justice Department said it would no longer bring such criminal cases.

The rally was held partly to support Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, who faces Democrat Mary Peltola, CBS said. Trump also said an 800-mile natural gas pipeline in Alaska had won every federal permit it needs, Fox News reported.

What we know: Trump pardoned two diesel shop owners onstage at an Alaska rally.
What we don't: Whether more such pardons are planned.