Statement by John E. Rimmasch Following the Granting of a Presidential Pardon

Former Wyoming business owner expresses gratitude, reaffirms faith in God and the Constitution, and looks toward rebuilding his family's future following a Presidential Pardon.

Preface

John E. Rimmasch (52), of Heber City, Utah, today issued the following statement following the granting of a Presidential Pardon by President Donald J. Trump. Mr. Rimmasch is the former Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Wasatch Railroad Contractors, a Wyoming-based railroad restoration and heavy industrial contracting company. Although the Rimmasch family now resides in Utah, the underlying criminal case and prosecution arose from business operations conducted in the State of Wyoming.

The case was brought by the National Park Service and included criminal prosecution arising from matters under the federal Clean Air Act. Mr. Rimmasch has consistently maintained that the issues underlying his case were regulatory in nature and should have been addressed through the civil remedies available under the Clean Air Act rather than through criminal prosecution. Following a review of his petition, President Trump granted Mr. Rimmasch a Presidential Pardon.

The following is Mr. Rimmasch's statement:

Today, our family pauses first to give thanks to Almighty God. On behalf of my wife Becky, our four children, our extended family, and our many friends, we offer our deepest gratitude for the countless prayers, words of encouragement, and unwavering support that have carried us through one of the most difficult chapters of our lives. We firmly believe that God hears and answers prayers, and today we are profoundly grateful for His blessings.

We also wish to express our sincere appreciation to President Donald J. Trump, his Administration, and those who devoted their time and effort to reviewing cases such as mine. As our Nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, we remain deeply thankful for a country founded upon faith, religious liberty, individual responsibility, and the God-given right to pursue happiness. These principles have sustained our family through every trial we have faced.

I am John E. Rimmasch—a husband, the father of four wonderful children, an active member of my church, and someone who has spent much of his life building businesses, creating jobs, serving my community, and contributing to the industries and communities I love. Through Wasatch Railroad Contractors, I had the privilege of employing talented men and women, restoring historic railroad equipment, and participating in projects across the United States. My family and I have always believed that hard work, integrity, faith, and perseverance are the cornerstones of the American Dream.

The past several years have been extraordinarily difficult. The prosecution of my company and me resulted in the loss of our business, the loss of our livelihood, imprisonment, and financial hardship that affected not only me but my entire family. It was a burden that touched every aspect of our lives.

Throughout this process, I have consistently maintained that my case involved matters that should have been resolved through civil regulatory processes rather than criminal prosecution. I believed then, and I continue to believe today, that the criminal justice system was applied in a manner that exceeded what justice required. My petition for a Presidential Pardon reflected that belief and respectfully asked that my case receive careful review.

Last year, under the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Department of Justice announced an initiative to review cases in which concerns had been raised regarding potential government overreach and the weaponization of federal authority against American citizens and business owners. I am grateful that my case was among those reviewed and that President Trump chose to extend this extraordinary act of executive clemency.

To me, this pardon represents far more than relief for my family. It reaffirms an important principle that has existed since the founding of our Republic: that our constitutional system contains safeguards capable of correcting injustice when it occurs. The pardon power entrusted to the President by the Constitution exists for those moments when mercy, fairness, and justice call for thoughtful reconsideration.

Our Founding Fathers never intended for government to become so powerful that ordinary citizens would lose confidence in the fairness of their own institutions. They established a constitutional republic built upon checks and balances, accountability, and the rule of law. My hope has always been that my case might contribute, in some small way, to restoring public confidence that our justice system is capable not only of enforcing the law but also of correcting itself when appropriate.

My faith in the United States of America, our Constitution, and the principles upon which our Republic was founded has never wavered. Throughout this journey, I have always distinguished between the greatness of our Nation and the actions of individual government officials. America remains the greatest Nation on Earth because our Constitution provides mechanisms through which justice may ultimately prevail.

As a patriotic American, I also recognize that it was never our Nation that hurt my family. Rather, it was decisions made by individuals entrusted with enforcing our laws. My faith in America has remained unwavering because our constitutional system ultimately provided a path through which justice could be restored.

Looking forward, my family and I intend to focus on rebuilding our lives. We look forward to creating new opportunities, building new businesses, serving our church and our communities, and once again contributing to American industry through honest work, innovation, determination, and faith. We are excited to begin this next chapter and to give back to the country that has given our family so much.

To everyone who stood beside us, prayed for us, encouraged us, and refused to lose hope, thank you. Your faith strengthened ours and reminded us that we never walked this journey alone.

This pardon does not mark the end of our story. Rather, it marks the beginning of a new chapter—one built upon faith in God, confidence in the Constitution, gratitude for the blessings of liberty, and the unwavering belief that persistence, patience, integrity, and hope will always prevail.

May God continue to bless President Donald J. Trump, the United States of America, and all those who strive to preserve liberty, justice, and the Constitution for future generations.

John E. Rimmasch
Former Owner & Chief Executive Officer
Wasatch Railroad Contractors
Cheyenne, WY, Heber City, Utah

How to reach John

307-286-2307
thetrainstationutah@gmail.com