Trump pardons trail runner

Is this the first Trump pardon everyone can support!?

Can't believe the guy was facing jail time for doing something all the other record holders had done.

Well, it’s not “harmless conduct” the trail is closed for regrowth. However, I can that jail time would be quite a stiff penalty, how about a fine?

Lock him up. The plants he killed need justice.

I burn treez

The punishment seems like a ridiculous case of overreach. I'm not fan of Trump. But five stars for this move.

There were no plants there.

Were he a handicapped African American trans runner high on meth, he would have had the trail named after him during the last presidency.

You're so right "wejo," maybe this kooky fascist ain't half bad!

This should have been a fine, no more than $500, and never made it to court. I agree with this pardon, but its not the first Trump pardon I agree with.

Its the National Park Service's mandate to manage the national parks. They should create a system of permitting to allow limited access to this area for things such as record attempts. This is a very different situation than some day hiker hanging out in a restricted area and damaging fragile ecosystems. "No access, whatsoever" is not good management - our public servants should not take the lazy approach to conservation just because its easy.

Yes, I agree that a modest fine would have been more appropriate, and that their should be a process available to apply for a waivers to allow limited access for certain exceptional events.

I'd say a fine or an option to do some kind of community service in lieu of that.

Law and order! How did Trump know him anyways? Did he donate a lot of money, or maybe he knows someone within the MAGA circle?

There was probably a segment on Fox news if I had to guess.

Yeah wejo, this totally makes up for the daily assault on the rule of law and the constitution!

Im pretty sure he autopenned the signature and didn’t read any of it.

Five stars? more like five figures. Trump is motivated by personal gain. Dude likely paid a bribe...erm jail clearing fee.

According to the article, the court had convicted but not yet sentenced the guy. He had been offered "60 hours of community service, an educational course and a year of probation for Sunseri in exchange for the guilty conviction expunged from his record." I doubt that jail time for this was ever a realistic possibility.

So he could have apologized, done trail maintenance in the park, and everyone would have moved on, but he instead lawyered up and cost the taxpayers' money on fighting a charge that he was clearly guilty of.

Much more detailed account here:

marathonhandbook.com

Trail Star Michelino Sunseri Found Guilty in Grand Teton FKT Case

@marathonHB

On a crisp September morning in 2024, professional trail runner Michelino Sunseri left the Lupine Meadows trailhead with a goal: to set a new Fastest Known

Open link

(Caution: article contains nuance and perspective from multiple sides. May not be suitable for some LetsRun posters.)

Biden prosecutors and a magistrate judge appointed by an Obama judge. Figures.

It’s incorrect to say “all the other record holders” cut the switchback. Yes, older ones did, but the existing FKT’s did not. Everyone (including Michelino) knows that it’s now off limits, and the only reason to continue doing it is for an unfair advantage. He also had an unpermitted film crew document him doing it, which is another reason NPS decided to make an example of him.

This has split the trail running community here, and I’m not posting under my normal name because I’ve already lost friends over this. Michelino is a really nice guy, and I’m glad he was pardoned because the punishment was excessive. But as pro trail runners, we also have a responsibility to set an example for the public of how to be good stewards of our public lands.