Former owner of Tottenham Hotspur, Joe Lewis, is poised to receive an official pardon from the President of the United States, Donald Trump. Lewis, who transferred ownership of Spurs to the Lewis Family Trust in 2022, was fined £4 million after admitting to insider trading. Despite this, reports indicate he will not be rejoining the north London club.
Having escaped imprisonment in 2024, Lewis was spared jail time following pleas for leniency based on his failing health and early admission of guilt. President Trump, having granted several pardons since taking office after Joe Biden, is expected to extend this privilege to the former Premier League club leader, as reported by The Telegraph.
A presidential pardon in the U.S. is a formal forgiveness of a federal offense, absolving the individual from further punishment and reinstating their civil rights. While offenses of this nature typically carry a prison term of up to two years according to federal standards, Lewis is said to be exempt from serving time.
The official announcement of Lewis’ pardon is scheduled for today by the White House. In response, the British billionaire expressed relief, stating, “I am pleased to put this chapter behind me and look forward to retirement, observing as my family and business associates uphold our tradition of quality and excellence.”
Following Daniel Levy’s departure, the Lewis family has assumed full control of Tottenham this year, indicating that the club will operate under their name going forward. However, Lewis himself will remain in retirement.
The current leadership at Tottenham now comprises Joe’s daughter Vivienne, his son Charles, and Vivienne’s spouse Nick Beucher. Eric Hinson recently joined as a non-executive director, working alongside non-executive chairman Peter Charrington and CEO Vinai Venkatesham.
Levy’s nearly 25-year tenure as chairman came to an end in September, marking a shift towards a more conventional organizational structure at the club, rather than one centered on a single individual.
In his departing statement, Levy expressed pride in the collective achievements at the club, attributing success to the collaborative efforts of the team, players, and managers over the years. He thanked the fans for their unwavering support and pledged continued passion for the club.
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