Trump Grants Pardon; $660 Million Debt Forgiven
In a surprising turn of events, Trevor Milton, the founder of Nikola Corporation, was pardoned by President Donald Trump in late 2023. This decision came despite Milton's conviction in 2022 for lying to investors about the capabilities of Nikola's technology.
Milton's fraud conviction involved claims that he had misled investors about the performance of Nikola's trucks, including a video in 2016 showing a prototype that was actually towed to give the illusion of it moving under its own power. The exact amount the SEC was pursuing from Milton remains unclear.
The SEC has since dropped civil enforcement cases against people pardoned by President Trump, including Milton. However, an SEC spokesperson declined to comment on Milton's case.
The U.S. Department of Justice had initially sought over $660 million in restitution for Milton's victims, but Trump's pardon wiped out that sum. The DOJ's guidelines state that people shouldn't be considered for a pardon until they've served their sentence and five years have passed.
Liz Oyer, a lawyer and the DOJ pardon attorney who was fired for refusing to reinstate Mel Gibson's gun rights, noted that the DOJ has guidelines for recommending pardons. Oyer also claimed that more than $1 billion in total debts have been wiped out by Trump's pardons.
In a TikTok video, Oyer discussed a $1.8 million donation made by Milton, stating it was a good investment due to the debt wipe-out from Trump's pardons. However, it's important to note that Trump's pardons haven't followed the regular process for recommending pardons.
Trump claimed that Milton's only crime was supporting him during the presidential campaign. Yet, Milton was not convicted for supporting Trump, but for defrauding hundreds of millions of dollars from his investors.
Milton did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding his pardon and the associated controversies. This article will be updated when a response is received.
In conclusion, Trevor Milton's pardon by President Trump has stirred up a storm of controversy, with questions being raised about the process and the implications of such decisions. As more information becomes available, this story will continue to evolve.
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