President Trump pardons two Florida divers convicted as felons for freeing trapped sharks, ending their four-year legal nightmare and restoring their constitutional rights.
Key Takeaways
- Tanner Mansell and John Moore Jr. received full presidential pardons after being convicted of theft for freeing 19 sharks and a giant grouper from a research longline
- The divers were convicted in 2022 under special maritime jurisdiction laws, resulting in felony records that restricted their voting rights, firearm ownership, and travel
- The men had believed they were intervening in illegal fishing activity when they freed the marine animals in 2020
- Trump’s pardons completely clear their criminal records, with attorneys calling the original prosecution “unjust”
Presidential Mercy for Marine Wildlife Defenders
In a decisive act of executive clemency, President Trump has granted full and unconditional pardons to two South Florida shark divers who were controversially convicted of theft after freeing entrapped marine wildlife. Tanner Mansell and John Moore Jr. found themselves facing federal charges after they discovered and released 19 sharks and a giant grouper from what they believed was an illegal fishing operation off Jupiter Inlet in 2020. The pardons, signed on Wednesday, effectively erase their felony convictions and restore their constitutional rights that had been compromised by the criminal records.
The incident occurred three miles offshore from Jupiter, Florida, when the divers encountered a longline with multiple sharks and a grouper attached. Believing they had stumbled upon illegal fishing equipment, they freed the animals and reported the incident to state wildlife officials. However, federal prosecutors later determined the line belonged to a fisherman properly licensed by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration for research purposes. This led to their 2022 convictions for theft of property within special maritime jurisdiction.
Legal Consequences and Restoration
While Mansell and Moore avoided prison sentences, the felony convictions carried significant penalties beyond the $3,343.72 in restitution they were ordered to pay. As convicted felons, they lost their voting rights, ability to possess firearms, and faced restrictions on international travel. Their legal team appealed the convictions but was unsuccessful in overturning them through judicial channels. President Trump’s intervention now completely clears their records, restoring their full civil liberties.
“We never stopped fighting, and justice has finally prevailed,” said Marc Seitles, Moore’s attorney. “We are thrilled the White House considered our arguments and determined this was an unjust prosecution. We could not be happier for John and Tanner.”
The Department of Justice formally announced that President Donald Trump has granted “full and unconditional pardons to two shark divers who were convicted of theft after releasing 19 sharks and a giant grouper from a research longline off the coast of Jupiter, Florida.” This official statement confirms the complete restoration of the divers’ legal standing and effectively validates their environmental concerns that motivated their actions.
Good Intentions vs. Federal Law
The case highlights the tension between well-intentioned environmental activism and legally sanctioned wildlife research. Both divers maintained throughout their legal ordeal that they genuinely believed they were stopping illegal fishing activity and protecting endangered marine life. Their attorneys consistently argued that criminalizing such actions under federal theft statutes represented an overreach of prosecutorial discretion, especially considering the men immediately reported their actions to proper authorities.
“This case never should have been filed,” said Ian Goldstein, Mansell’s attorney.
President Trump’s pardons appear to recognize the disproportionate nature of the consequences faced by Mansell and Moore relative to their actions and intent. By issuing unconditional pardons, the President has not only cleared their criminal records but also sent a message about proportional justice and the importance of considering context when applying federal laws. For the two Florida divers, the four-year legal battle has finally ended with their reputations and rights fully restored.
