Nikola Motors is no more. The brand went bankrupt earlier this year. But now the brand's founder and former CEO has been pardoned by Donald Trump.
Donald Trump has pardoned Trevor Milton, the former CEO and founder of the car brand Nikola, who was previously convicted of fraud.
Trevor Milton was sentenced to four years in prison in December 2023 for defrauding investors and committing securities fraud. Milton has been out on bail since his conviction and has appealed the court's decision.
In addition to the prison sentence, the sentence included a fine of $1 million and three years of conditional probation.
Furthermore, Trevor Milton was ordered to pay damages of $167.7 million, equivalent to 1.1 billion kroner, to Nikola.
This is reported by CNBC.
One of the biggest fraudsters in the automotive industry has now been pardoned
All because Trevor Milton fooled investors into believing that Nikola was much further along in the development of its cars than was the case.
In connection with the announcement of the pardon, Milton has stated that he will soon release a documentary.
The film aims to shed light on the controversies surrounding Nikola and present the former director of the case. The brand's founder maintains his innocence throughout.
"This pardon is not just about me – it's about every American who has been treated unfairly by the government, and unfortunately that's a lot of people," Milton said.
– It's no wonder why trust in the Justice Department has disappeared. I wish judges would stop believing everything prosecutors feed them so Americans could trust the justice system again.
– Until that happens, our justice system will continue to erode until there is nothing left.
– The over 90 percent conviction rate in New York is appalling and is a result of prosecutors getting what they want and putting innocent people in prison.
– I have seen firsthand the tactics prosecutors use to get people convicted. I am incredibly grateful to President Trump. For his courage to do what is right. For pardoning me because I am innocent.
The documentary is titled 'Conviction of Conspiracy: The Trevor Milton Saga' and is directed by British filmmaker Mark Soldinger.
The documentary's description states that it will uncover the media storm, the legal aspects, and the unprecedented dynamics that led to Trevor Milton's conviction.
The documentary was apparently produced by Trevor Milton himself. Just as the trailer for it appeared on Milton's own YouTube channel, the documentary's veracity should therefore be taken with a very small grain of salt.
