Nikola Founder Trevor Milton Receives Full Pardon From Trump

Trevor Milton, the former CEO of Nikola Corp., received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, erasing his 2022 conviction for securities fraud. Milton was accused of deceiving investors about the company’s electric trucks and exaggerating their capabilities. Despite being sentenced to four years in prison, he argued he never intended to mislead and blamed his actions on naïveté. After the pardon, Milton criticized the justice system and claimed it represented a broader issue of government overreach against individuals. He expressed gratitude to Trump for what he termed a “sacred pardon of innocence.” Nikola, which Milton founded in 2014, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year amid financial struggles, safety concerns, and loss of investor trust. Milton plans to release a documentary detailing his legal battles and claims of exoneration, further promoting his narrative. From a transportation perspective, this case underscores the critical importance of transparency and honesty in emerging industries like electric vehicles and hydrogen technology. The fallout from Milton’s actions reflects how investor confidence can swiftly erode when companies do not adhere to ethical standards, potentially stalling innovation and progress in crucial areas for sustainable transportation. Pardon decisions can also have significant implications for public trust in regulatory frameworks designed to protect investors and ensure accountability in corporate leadership.