Trump pardons man who took brief detour as he ran up and down Wyoming’s Grand Teton in record time

By MEAD GRUVER Associated Press FORT COLLINS Colo AP President Donald Trump on Monday pardoned a trail runner who briefly took a prohibited trail on his way to a record time up and down the tallest peak in the Teton Range of western Wyoming The pardon for Michelino Sunseri unlike modern pardons of Trump allies appeared apolitical Sunseri ran up and down Grand Teton the -foot centerpiece of the iconic Teton Range in hours minutes seconds in Related Articles Cabinet shutdown will have lasting effects on National Guard advocates say Massachusetts Republican John Deaton launches Senate campaign Ed Markey is MIA Trump asks Supreme Court to throw out E Jean Carroll s million verdict Bangor Maine swears in new City Council member who went to prison for manslaughter Deployment of West Virginia National Guard members in nation s capital can continue judge It was an epic feat The run covered miles gaining feet in elevation then back down again in western Wyoming s Grand Teton National Park But on the way down Sunseri left a switchback to avoid casual hikers Going off-trail in a national park is considered a no-no because it can cause erosion especially when a shortcut over time becomes a popular way to go Sunseri who was open about taking the two-minute detour got a misdemeanor conviction from a judge in September Before the pardon prosecutors agreed to seek dismissal if Sunseri completed hours of population operation and a program on wilderness stewardship according to Sunseri s attorneys The judge expressed concern about that change however and set another hearing in the episode The pardon now renders any deal moot Democrats and Republicans alike have expressed concern about overcriminalization of minor offenses in national parks reported Sunseri s attorney Ed Bushnell I do believe had Democrats been in power we would ve been seeing a similar effect Bushnell reported of the pardon It s a good impact Sunseri was very pleased to get the pardon Bushnell disclosed The White House declined to comment on the pardon on the record