In a significant development from the United States, President Donald Trump has granted a formal pardon to Joe Lewis, the British billionaire and former controlling shareholder of Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur. This executive action comes after Lewis pleaded guilty to federal insider trading charges last year.
The Case Against the Billionaire
Joe Lewis faced a serious legal battle when he was indicted in 2023. Federal prosecutors accused him of orchestrating a scheme over several years where he allegedly misused his privileged access to corporate boardrooms. The charges detailed that he repeatedly passed inside information to a circle of close associates, which included romantic partners and even his private pilots.
Despite the gravity of the accusations, Lewis chose not to contest his extradition and ultimately admitted his guilt in court. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to pay a substantial $5 million fine for his crimes.
Reasons Behind the Presidential Pardon
A White House official confirmed the pardon to NBC News, stating that Lewis acknowledged making a terrible mistake. The official justification for the pardon, issued on a Thursday, centers on Lewis's personal circumstances. Now 88 years old and residing in the Bahamas, Lewis formally requested the pardon to enable him to travel to the United States for medical treatment and to visit his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
According to Forbes, Joe Lewis has an estimated net worth of $6.9 billion. Following the pardon, Lewis released a statement expressing his relief, saying, "I am pleased all of this is now behind me, and I can enjoy retirement and watch as my family and extended family continue to build our businesses."
A Pattern of Controversial Pardons
This pardon is part of a renewed wave of clemency actions from the Trump administration. The White House had temporarily paused these activities after concerns were raised that the pardon process had become a profitable venture for lobbying firms during Trump's second term.
Just days before pardoning Lewis, President Trump also issued pardons to his former attorney, Rudy Giuliani, and 76 others connected to efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results. This group included attorneys Sidney Powell and John Eastman, as well as his former chief of staff, Mark Meadows. However, these particular pardons are seen as largely symbolic since none of those individuals had been convicted of federal crimes.
Last month, Trump also commuted the prison sentence of former Republican Congressman George Santos, who was facing seven years for wire fraud and identity theft.
A source close to the Lewis family expressed profound gratitude, stating they "are extremely grateful for this pardon and would like to thank President Trump for taking this action."
