Founder of Nikola, the hydrogen-truck company
Trevor Milton
a.k.a. “Hydrogen Man”
A jury convicted him of lying to investors about Nikola’s trucks. He got four years. Prosecutors wanted $680 million in restitution for the shareholders. Before the judge could rule, he was pardoned. Months earlier, he and his wife had given more than a million and a half dollars to Trump-aligned committees.
Rap sheet
- Convicted of
- Securities fraud; wire fraud (two counts) [1]
- Court
- Southern District of New York [1]
- Restitution sought
- $680 million for Nikola shareholders plus $15.2 million for another victim. Never ordered. [5]
- Lawyer
- Brad Bondi, brother of Attorney General Pam Bondi [4]
- Granted
- Full and unconditional pardon, March 27, 2025, with “remission of any and all fines, penalties, forfeitures, and restitution” [2]
The receipt
PARDONMAXXING TREVOR MILTON - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Money on the table (reported)
Wiped off the books
- Restitution prosecutors sought (never ordered) [5] $680,000,000
- Fine [2][4] $1,000,000
- Prison [1] 4 years
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
“Coincidence ROI”* 40,678%
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*Satire. Money erased ÷ money on the table, minus one. We’re not saying there’s a connection. The math is just sitting there.
Gold is money that was reportedly spent near the President’s orbit. Red is what the grant wiped away. We list what was reported and when. We don’t claim one caused the other. How we count.
Timeline
- October 2022 The law Convicted by a jury in Manhattan. [4]
- December 18, 2023 The law Sentenced to four years. [1]
- September 2024 The money He and his wife give $750,000 to the MAHA Alliance super PAC. [4]
- October 2024 The money They give $920,000 to the Trump 47 Committee. [4]
- March 2025 The law Prosecutors ask the judge to order $680 million in restitution to shareholders. [5]
- March 27, 2025 The pardon Pardoned. The judge can no longer order restitution. [2][4]
“He supported Trump. He liked Trump.”
Detective’s notes
CommentaryTrump explained it himself: Milton’s real offense was backing Trump early. On the question of the shareholders, he didn’t say much.
Milton says the donations had nothing to do with it. The shareholders are welcome to believe him. They’ve had practice.