In a controversial late-term move, former US President Donald Trump has issued a full pardon to a prominent sports and entertainment executive who was facing federal charges brought by his own administration's Justice Department.
The Pardon and the Charges
Tim Leiweke, the co-founder of the Oak View Group, received the "full and unconditional pardon" from Trump on Tuesday, 20 April 2024. The pardon was quietly posted on a US Justice Department website the following day. This action marks the fifth such pardon granted by Trump in the span of a single week, all bestowed upon influential figures without public explanation.
Leiweke had been indicted in July of this year. Federal prosecutors alleged he played a central role in "orchestrating a conspiracy to rig the bidding process" for an arena project at a public university in Austin, Texas. He had pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to restrict trade and was scheduled to stand trial next year.
Strong Condemnation from Prosecutors
At the time of the indictment, justice officials were unequivocal in their condemnation. Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department's antitrust division stated that Leiweke's actions "rigged a bidding process to benefit his own company and deprived a public university and taxpayers of the benefits of competitive bidding." She emphasised the department's commitment to holding executives accountable for cheating to avoid competition.
Justin Simmons, the US Attorney for the Western District of Texas, appointed to his interim role by Trump's own attorney general in June, echoed this sentiment. He said the unfair business practices involved made it "very difficult for the American people to pursue prosperity like our founders intended."
Gratitude and a New Lease on Life
Following the pardon, Leiweke expressed profound relief. In a statement to the Sports Business Journal on Wednesday, he said, "I do not have the words to adequately convey my profound gratitude to President Trump." He described the legal process as a "long and difficult journey" for his family and stated that the President had given them "a new lease on life."
The pardon effectively terminates a significant corruption case initiated by prosecutors who served under Trump's own administration. This pattern of last-minute clemency for connected individuals has reignited debates about the use and oversight of presidential pardon powers, particularly in cases where the justice system's own processes are circumvented.
