Public Trust Tracker

INV-020 · Money & ethics · Pardons

Pardon for Nikola founder and donor Trevor Milton

Stage 2 of 5: Inquiry · Letters and records requests · Last development 6 Oct 2026

Trump pardoned Trevor Milton, sentenced to four years for defrauding Nikola investors. FEC records show Milton gave $920,000 to the Trump 47 Committee and $750,000 to the MAHA Alliance PAC in the months before the 2024 election. The pardon wiped out restitution prosecutors had sought, and the SEC later dropped its civil case. Democratic lawmakers are now asking about a report that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pushed for the pardon.

Donald Trump
People
Donald Trump, Trevor Milton
Agencies
White House, SEC
Reviewed by
Senate & House Democrats

Money involved

  • $1.67 million Milton's gifts to Trump 47 Committee and MAHA Alliance PAC (Donations from people with business before the government) [2]

Timeline

  1. Sens. Blumenthal and Welch and Reps. Min and Scanlon write to HHS Secretary Kennedy. They cite a June Reuters report that he advocated for Milton's pardon and ask about his relationship with Milton. The letters were sent 'Tuesday' per a CBS article dated 9 Oct 2026. [6]

  2. The SEC files a joint stipulation with Milton to dismiss its 2021 civil fraud case with prejudice. Milton waives legal costs and releases claims against the agency. [4]

  3. The White House confirms the pardon. [1]

  4. Milton gives $920,000 to the Trump 47 Committee (FEC records, per NBC). AP reports Milton and his wife gave more than $1.8M to a Trump re-election fund less than a month before the election. [2]

  5. Milton gives $750,000 to the MAHA Alliance PAC (FEC records, per NBC). [2]

Responses

  • Donald Trump: Said Milton "did nothing wrong" and the pardon was "highly recommended by many people." [1]
  • Kennedy camp: A source close to Kennedy told CBS he has privately said he will not advocate for any pardons. HHS did not immediately respond. [6]

Who is acting on it

  • Letter Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), Rep. Dave Min (D-CA), Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA): Asked Kennedy about his role in Milton's pardon (6 Oct 2026, No reply or result recorded yet)

Sources

  1. Associated Press via KSAT, 28 Mar 2025
  2. NBC/CNBC, 28 Mar 2025
  3. AP via Arab News, 29 Mar 2025
  4. Bloomberg Tax, 11 Sep 2025
  5. Reuters via Hydrogen Central, 11 Sep 2025
  6. CBS News, 9 Oct 2026

Cite this case

Public Trust Tracker. "Pardon for Nikola founder and donor Trevor Milton" (INV-020). Last updated 6 Oct 2026. https://publictrusttracker.org/case/inv-020-pardon-for-nikola-founder-and-donor-trevor-milton/

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