Trevor Milton is raising funds for a new jet he claims will transform flying

jgalt212

> "There's a sucker born every minute" is a quotation often associated with American showman P. T. Barnum (1810-1891), although there is no evidence that he actually said it. Early instances of its use are found among salesmen, gamblers and confidence tricksters. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There%27s_a_sucker_born_every_...

NickC25

I'm sorry, but anyone Donald Trump has pardoned for fraud should not be trusted at all. It's literally a matter of "game recognizes game". If Donald Trump gets a cut of the fraud, that's all that matters to him.

maxweylandt

https://archive.is/https://www.wsj.com/business/trevor-milto...

kotaKat

"Investor documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal said the goal is for the plane to be the first light jet to focus on artificial-intelligence flight." Oh cool, can't wait for the vibe-coded autopilot to CFIT into the Rockies or dump itself into the ocean that it thought was totally a runway while a completely untrained, inexperienced hot shot with $10 million to blow flies this generation's V-tailed doctor killer[1] to their final destination. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Bonanza

JoshGG

Says a lot about whether you can trust the WSJ.

Zealotux

Fool me once, shame on you...

jadbox

The favor trading corruption is blatant without shame. More of the media should be highlighting these cases.

etempleton

In my experience, people who are compulsive liars or those who are willing to make large or repeated deceptions for personal gain never change. It is as natural to them as breathing. Some of them I am quite convinced believe their lies, but the net result is the same. I don't know Trevor Milton. I have never met him. Maybe he isn't a compulsive liar but just got in over his head and was trying to make it work. But I know I would never invest in something he is doing.

some_random

Just for once I want "CEO convicted of fraud making their comeback" to come back with some really boring business. Like, I want Elizabeth Holmes to serve out her sentence then come out swinging to raise funds to vertically integrate pallet construction.

close04

> Trevor Milton’s conviction for defrauding investors in truck company Nikola was wiped away Best justice money can buy. > He’s now raising funds for a new jet he claims will transform flying With his history building the "truck that can roll unpowered down a hill" I shudder to think just how his jet would transform flying.

hermannj314

The President has plenary authority to grant pardons and I imagine a time, in the near future, when questioning any authority of this administration would he deemed an act of treason. Therefore, I wish only the best of luck to never-committed-a-crime Trevor Milton and to the infallibility of our dear leader in his wise and judicious use of the power he has been given by God and the Constitution.

game_the0ry

I struggle to understand the psychology of how founders who are clearly incompetent charlatans get second+ chances -- they couldn't do fraud successfully but investors have a faith they could do business successfully. But they still get funding (like adam neumann of wework fame) and full on "narrative tongue baths" by the business media community (like this wsj article on trevor milton). Why? I struggle to understand the incentives + motivations here.

josefritzishere

I cannot fathom the thinking of any party investing in the new company of a convicted fraudster.

exogeny

Pathetic. Everyone in this story is pathetic. Trump, Milton, all of them.

Invictus0

For anyone that hasn't seen it, or just wants to reminisce, here's Hindenburg's report on Nikola, Milton's previous scheme. It is a truly hilarious read. https://hindenburgresearch.com/nikola/

arbuge

Whenever I see any news about this guy, I always think of this: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38686150

nerevarthelame

On top of the fraud convictions, Trevor Milton was credibly accused of sexual assault by his own cousin and a girl he employed. Both victims were minors at the time. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/29/two-women-file-sexual-abuse-...

1vuio0pswjnm7

Text-only, HTTPS optional: https://assets.msn.com/content/view/v2/Detail/en-in/AA1YRlL9...

JohnTHaller

Translation: Convicted fraud pardoned by convicted fraud is likely gonna fraud again

mh2266

is he going to roll it down a hill to make it take off?