President Donald Trump has granted a full and unconditional pardon to Tim Leiweke, co-founder and former CEO of Oak View Group (OVG). Leiweke was indicted earlier by the Justice Department for allegedly orchestrating a bid-rigging conspiracy involving a public university arena project in Austin, Texas.
The federal grand jury charged Leiweke with manipulating the bidding process to benefit his own company. Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater stated that his actions deprived the university and taxpayers of competitive bidding benefits. Leiweke pleaded not guilty and faced up to 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
Leiweke’s legal defense was led by Trey Gowdy, a Trump ally and former congressman, who advocated for dropping the charges or granting clemency. Leiweke had previously criticized Trump on social media but expressed “profound gratitude” for the pardon. “The President has given us a new lease on life,” Leiweke said, acknowledging the toll the legal battle took on his family.
His attorney, David Gerger, called the pardon “the right result,” reflecting on its impact on Leiweke’s future. OVG replaced Leiweke as CEO shortly after his indictment; the company welcomed the news and expressed focus under new leadership. A spokesperson said, “We are happy for Tim that he can now put this matter behind him.”
In connection with the allegations, OVG agreed to pay $15 million in penalties, according to the Justice Department. Leiweke, a longtime sports executive, has a notable history including serving as president of the Denver Nuggets in the early 1990s and co-founding OVG in 2015.
This pardon follows recent controversial clemency actions by Trump, including the erasure of a drug-trafficking conviction for a former foreign leader and pardons for Texas Democratic Representative Henry Cuellar and his wife amid bribery charges. The developments highlight ongoing debates around presidential pardon powers and their political implications.
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