Trump Planning Another Pardon
President Donald Trump is moving forward with a high-visibility presidential pardon for billionaire businessman Joe Lewis, whose family controls the majority ownership of the Premier League’s Tottenham Hotspur soccer franchise. The decision marks another bold step by Trump as he continues undoing what many conservatives view as politically motivated or excessive prosecutions carried out in previous years.
Lewis Avoided Prison Due to Age and Health Concerns
Lewis, now 88, pleaded guilty in 2024 to insider trading charges in a case many critics said was inflated and unnecessarily aggressive. He paid a $5 million fine but received no prison time after a New York judge acknowledged his advanced age and medical needs. Instead, Lewis was given three years of probation.
According to The Athletic, these same factors—his health, age, and the fact that he did not personally profit from the trades—played a major role in President Trump’s decision to grant the pardon.
Pardon Clears the Way for Lewis to Reenter the United States
The presidential pardon will finally allow Lewis to travel back to the United States, something he has been restricted from doing since his sentencing. Sources say Lewis requested the pardon so he could access medical care in America and spend time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren—something he has not been able to do since the case began.
Lewis Says He Is Ready to Move On and Enjoy Retirement
In a statement, Lewis said he is relieved to put the legal battle behind him and is eager to enjoy retirement while watching his family continue to grow their global business ventures, which he described as built on “quality” and a “pursuit of excellence.”
Lewis stepped back from hands-on involvement with Tottenham Hotspur in 2022, transferring majority ownership to his family through a trust as part of his long-term succession plan.
Another High-Profile Pardon from President Trump’s Second Term
Lewis now joins a growing list of business leaders and high-net-worth individuals who have received pardons from President Trump during his second term—many of whom were swept up in cases conservatives say were driven more by politics than fairness.
The move is already earning praise from supporters who argue Trump continues to restore balance, justice, and common sense to a legal system that has too often been weaponized against political opponents and high-profile business figures.
