Joe Lewis, the billionaire who once controlled Tottenham Hotspur, is expected to receive an official pardon from United States President Donald Trump, bringing an extraordinary close to the legal saga that saw him plead guilty to insider trading.
The 88-year-old, who transferred his ownership of Spurs to the Lewis Family Trust in 2022, was fined £4million earlier this year but avoided prison after a judge accepted appeals for leniency based on his age, health and early admission of guilt.
His conviction became one of the most high profile white collar cases of 2024, though prosecutors and defence lawyers argued jointly that incarceration would serve little purpose given his condition.
Now, according to The Telegraph, the former Premier League club chief is poised to be included in a new round of presidential pardons issued by Trump following his return to the White House.
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A presidential pardon in the United States erases the legal consequences of a federal conviction and restores civil rights affected by that conviction.
While the offences to which Lewis pleaded guilty carried a potential maximum sentence of two years, the businessman will hasn't spent any time behind bars. His pardon is expected to appear on the White House website later today.
In a statement, Lewis expressed relief that the matter had finally reached its conclusion.
Donald Trump is set to pardon former Tottenham owner Joe Lewis
|PA
“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,” he said.
Despite the attention the presidential intervention will bring, there is no prospect of Lewis re-entering club affairs in north London.
Tottenham’s hierarchy passed fully into the hands of the Lewis family earlier this year after the departure of long serving chairman Daniel Levy.
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Joe Lewis helped shape Tottenham into a European superpower
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The club, which had spent more than two decades shaped by Levy’s leadership, now operates under a broader executive structure rather than being defined by a single dominant figure.
Lewis remains retired while the day to day stewardship of the club lies with his daughter Vivienne, his son Charles and Vivienne’s husband Nick Beucher.
They have overseen a series of behind the scenes changes as the club adjusts to its new era.
Eric Hinson joined the board as a non executive director in recent weeks and will work alongside non executive chairman Peter Charrington and chief executive Vinai Venkatesham.
Levy’s departure in September marked the end of almost 25 years at Tottenham during which he presided over the construction of the club’s world class stadium, its ascent into the Champions League elite and the rebranding of Spurs as a global sporting operation.
His exit was presented at the time as part of a shift towards a more orthodox corporate structure, distributing authority rather than concentrating decision making in one individual.
Daniel Levy left Tottenham earlier this year
| PAReflecting on his tenure, Levy said: “I am incredibly proud of the work I have done together with the executive team and all our employees.
“We have built this club into a global heavyweight competing at the highest level. More than that, we have built a community.”
He added: “I was lucky enough to work with some of the greatest people in this sport.
“I wish to thank all the fans that have supported me over the years. It hasn’t always been an easy journey but significant progress has been made. I will continue to support this club passionately.”