In a shocking development, former U.S. President Donald Trump has granted clemency to Trevor Milton, the former chief executive officer of electric truck manufacturer Nikola, who had been convicted of fraud.
Milton, convicted of fraud in 2022, was spared prison following influential advice to Trump, the New York Post reported.
Trevor Milton, age 42, made the news public on Thursday when he announced his presidential pardon through the social platform X. This pardon was later confirmed by three White House officials, attesting to its authenticity.
Some initially perceived the pardon as a publicity maneuver by Milton. It follows his 2022 conviction on three counts of fraud related to Nikola. A court sentenced him in December 2023 to four years in prison, though he avoided imprisonment while appeals were in process.
In a controversial statement, former President Trump, now 78, described the judicial actions against Milton as unjust. Trump cited Milton’s early political support as part of the rationale behind what he saw as an overzealous legal pursuit.
They got him. And I said, ‘That’s unfair.’ There are many people like that. They supported Trump, and they went after them. You don’t realize this is a vicious group of people that were in this office before us. This is a vicious group. They’re violent … They went after this man, and when I heard about it, I said, ‘Nope, it’s not going to happen.’ They persecuted, they destroyed five years of his life … and he did nothing wrong, and he’s a good person.
Milton’s journey attracted significant attention at Nikola’s peak when the company’s valuation surpassed that of automotive giant Ford, and his personal net worth reached an astounding $12 billion in 2020. However, controversy tainted this meteoric rise, leading to a severe drop in Nikola's corporate valuation.
In 2020, the company enjoyed a fleeting collaboration with General Motors, which further elevated its profile. Nonetheless, as disputes emerged, Nikola's reputation suffered considerable damage.
Adding to the complications, a Manhattan grand jury indicted Milton in July 2021 and accused him of molesting two women, including a minor cousin, although prosecutors did not pursue these charges in court.
Industry magnate Elon Musk criticized Nikola’s technological solutions, condemning them as unwise and dismissive. Musk’s comments reflected a broader skepticism within the engineering community regarding Nikola's innovation claims. Despite Musk's cutting remarks, Tesla's own struggles with achieving sustainable fuel alternatives were a continuing journey.
Trump drew parallels between Milton's legal issues and his own, recognizing a shared narrative of what he perceives as politically motivated lawsuits. Milton’s initial support for Trump seemingly positioned him for such sympathy.
While Trump noted the recommendation for clemency came from highly regarded advisers, he also stressed that he did not personally know Milton. He attributed Milton's legal troubles to political intrigues, particularly those connected to Milton's visible backing of Trump's campaign efforts.
The story of Trevor Milton’s pardon underlines the complexities of corporate and political relationships in the contemporary era, where business leaders and their ventures often become entangled in broader socio-political narratives. This unexpected clemency has added another layer to the ongoing discourse surrounding Trump’s presidency and his influence in political and economic spheres.
Milton, having once stood at the pinnacle of green automotive innovation, now represents both the potential highs and pitfalls that accompany modern entrepreneurial ventures. Nikola's future remains uncertain, and whether Milton will return to the public eye or step away from the spotlight remains unanswered.
