Former Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump on Tuesday, a decision that was officially posted on the Department of Justice’s website the following evening. This act of clemency comes after Leiweke faced a felony charge related to restrictive trade practices during his efforts to secure a bid for the University of Texas’ Moody Center arena in Austin.
In a heartfelt statement, Leiweke expressed immense gratitude to President Trump, stating, “I do not have the words to adequately convey my profound gratitude to President Trump. This has been a long and difficult journey for my wife, my daughter, and me. The President has given us a new lease on life with which we will be grateful and good stewards.”
The legal troubles began for Leiweke when he was charged by the DOJ in July, prompting him to step down as the CEO of OVG. A plea deadline had passed in November, and a jury trial was initially scheduled for May 4, following a continuance from an earlier December date.
An OVG spokesperson conveyed relief over the pardon, stating, “We are happy for Tim that he can now put this matter behind him. Oak View Group has remained steadfastly focused on delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients under the leadership of our CEO Chris Granger.”
The Department of Justice had alleged that in 2018, Leiweke conspired with Legends, another company involved in the bidding process, to manipulate the competitive landscape for the Moody Center project. Allegations included convincing Legends to withdraw from the bidding in exchange for future contracts upon the venue’s opening. Both OVG and Legends were granted non-prosecution agreements, with OVG paying a $15 million fine and Legends $1.5 million.
Leiweke argued that his company’s collaboration with Legends was a standard business strategy, especially considering that OVG was still relatively young at the time, having been founded just three years earlier.
Had he been convicted, Leiweke faced a potential maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. With the pardon now in place, he is hopeful to turn the page and focus on future endeavors.