Trump pardons sports executive charged by his Justice Department

Tim Leiweke was indicted in July in connection with conspiracy to rig the bidding process for the development of an arena at the University of Texas in Austin.

President Donald Trump has pardoned the former chief executive of the entertainment venue company Oak View Group months after he was indicted on a federal conspiracy charge.

Tim Leiweke, 68, who remains a shareholder of the company after he stepped down as CEO in July, expressed his "profound gratitude" to Trump for the pardon.

“This has been a long and difficult journey for my wife, my daughter, and me,” Leiweke said in a statement Wednesday. “The President has given us a new lease on life with which we will be grateful and good stewards."

Leiweke was charged during the Trump administration.

A federal grand jury in Texas returned an indictment in July that accused Leiweke of conspiring with a competitor to rig the bidding process to develop the $375 million Moody Center, a 15,000-seat arena at the University of Texas at Austin, which hosts major music events, as well as basketball and other sporting events. The would-be competitor agreed to stand down in the bidding process in exchange for subcontracts.