Former Tottenham owner Joe Lewis is set to be pardoned by US President Donald Trump after pleading guilty to insider trading.
The Bahamas-based billionaire, who founded the ENIC group, led the ownership of Tottenham Hotspur until a few years ago.
However, Lewis pleaded guilty to charges of insider trading after being indicted for passing information to ‘romantic partners and his private pilots’.
This did not affect the North London club, as prior to the indictment, Lewis transferred control of Spurs and some of his other assets to Lewis Family Trusts.
Former Tottenham owner set to be officially pardoned
The Telegraph now report that Lewis, who was fined £4 million last year after pleading guilty to insider trading, is now set to be pardoned.
The official pardon will arrive from the office of US President Donald Trump, and the 88-year-old admits that he is relieved not to have this case hanging over him.
Lewis said about the development: “I am pleased all of this is now behind me, and I can enjoy retirement and watch as my family and extended family continue to build our businesses based on the quality and pursuit of excellence that has become our trademark.”
A source close to the Lewis family added about the pardon: “Joe and the Lewis family are extremely grateful for this pardon and would like to thank President Trump for taking this action. Over his long business career, Joe has been a visionary, creating businesses across the world which multiple generations of his family are now taking forward. There is so much more to the Joe Lewis story than this one event.”
Joe Lewis will not be making a return to Tottenham
Despite being pardoned, The Telegraph claim that Lewis has no plans of taking charge at the helm of the North London club once more.
The Lewis family took full operational control of Spurs earlier this year after Daniel Levy’s 14-year reign as chairman came to an end.
The club is currently run by Joe’s daughter, Vivienne, his son, Charles, along with executive chairman Peter Charrington and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham.