Donald Trump Pardons British Billionaire Joe Lewis for Insider Trading Conviction
Joe Lewis, the British billionaire and former owner of Tottenham Hotspur, has been pardoned by former U.S. President Donald Trump for a 2024 insider trading conviction. Lewis had pleaded guilty during 2023-2024 court proceedings to involvement in a securities fraud and conspiracy scheme that prosecutors said enriched his associates and employees.
In 2024, a New York judge sentenced Lewis to a $5 million personal fine and three years of probation, while his company, Broad Bay, was fined $44 million. The Guardian reports that the fine will not be repaid to Lewis or Broad Bay. The pardon was first reported by The Daily Telegraph before being confirmed by Trump’s aides and the White House.
Lewis sought the pardon citing medical treatment needs and the ability to visit family in the United States as reasons for his request.
In 2022, Lewis transferred majority ownership of Tottenham Hotspur to his family through a trust. The club is currently overseen by his daughter Vivienne, his son Charles, and Vivienne’s husband Nick Beucher. Besides his involvement with Tottenham, Lewis holds the largest stake in Mitchells & Butlers, a prominent UK pub and restaurant operator.
The insider trading scheme was detailed in a 29-page dossier released in 2023 by the Southern District of New York (SDNY). It outlined the scheme's components, including Lewis sharing insider tips with employees and associates such as his private jet pilot and girlfriend, Carolyn Carter.
