In a controversial move, former U.S. President Donald Trump has granted a pardon to British billionaire Joe Lewis, the 88-year-old magnate whose family trust owns the Tottenham Hotspur soccer club. Lewis had been fined $5 million in January 2024 after pleading guilty to insider trading and conspiracy charges in New York. The pardon, revealed by a White House official on Thursday, allows Lewis to seek medical treatment and visit his grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the United States. Lewis’s legal troubles stemmed from allegations that he shared nonpublic information about publicly traded companies with friends, employees, and romantic interests between 2019 and 2021, enabling them to profit from the tips. Despite the severity of the charges, Lewis avoided prison time in April 2024 when a federal judge cited his declining health and a lifetime of philanthropic contributions. During his sentencing, Lewis expressed remorse, stating, ‘I made a terrible mistake. I’m ashamed,’ and vowed to rebuild trust for the remainder of his life. In addition to the $5 million fine, Lewis and his company, Broad Bay Limited, agreed to pay over $50 million in financial penalties. Lewis, whose fortune was once estimated by Forbes at over $6 billion, has extensive investments in real estate, biotechnology, energy, and agriculture. He acquired a stake in Tottenham Hotspur in 2001 and oversaw the construction of its state-of-the-art stadium. While Lewis relinquished operational control of the club in 2022, his family trust remains the majority owner of ENIC, the holding company that owns the team. Lewis’s Tavistock Group controls over 200 companies globally, and his art collection includes works by Picasso, Matisse, and Degas. His business ventures also include collaborations with celebrities like Tiger Woods and Justin Timberlake.
British billionaire Joe Lewis is pardoned by Trump for insider trading and conspiracy crimes
