Trump pardons former Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke in bid-rigging case
Denver sports executive Tim Leiweke who was facing a trial on bid-rigging charges has received a full and unconditional pardon from President Donald Trump Trump signed an order on Dec directing the pardon attorney to grant Leiweke clemency which means there will be no trial to determine his innocence or guilt Leiweke faced up to years in prison and a million fine on statements he violated the Sherman Antitrust Act I do not have the words to adequately convey my profound gratitude to President Trump This has been a long and tough 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 Leiweke reported in a report Leiweke stepped down as CEO of Denver-based Oak View Group in July after a grand jury indicted him for conspiracy to rig the bidding process at the Moody Center at the University of Texas at Austin which cost million to build He continues to serve as vice chairman at Oak View which builds and manages sports venues around the world The indictment which was filed in the U S District Court for the Western District of Texas alleged that Leiweke from early through June conspired with a competitor Legends Hospitality to rig the bidding for the improvement management and use of the arena which opened in April Oak View and Legends Hospitality based in New York agreed to pay million and million in penalties respectively in connection with the conduct alleged in the indictment against Leiweke according to the DOJ The two companies neither admitted nor denied guilt Timothy Leiweke allegedly led a scheme designed to steer the contract for entertainment services at a residents university s arena to his company Citizens contracts are subject to laws requiring an open and competitive bid process to ensure a level playing field FBI New York Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G Raia disclosed in a news release in July Oak View named Chris Granger as interim CEO after Leiweke stepped down and made the title permanent last week Granger earlier in his career was president of the Detroit Tigers Detroit Red Wings and the Sacramento Kings We are happy for Tim that he can now put this matter behind him a spokesperson for the Oak View Group recounted media outlets Related Articles Pressure mounts on Gov Jared Polis to deny Tina Peters prison transfer request The silence is deafening Trump leaders seek to transfer Tina Peters from Colorado prison to federal custody While president of the Denver Nuggets in the early s Leiweke got the ball rolling on what would become the Pepsi Center now Ball Arena He is also credited with helping to bring the Quebec Nordiques the future Colorado Avalanche to Denver Leiweke left the Nuggets in to work with Anschutz Entertainment Group becoming president and CEO the following year a role he held until March He oversaw the construction of the Staples Center in Los Angeles which serves as home to the Lakers Kings and Sparks and a related entertainment district called L A Live He was also behind the O Arena in London the Microsoft Theater in L A and the Dignity Healthcare Sports Park a soccer stadium in Carson Calif He co-founded Oakview Group in November and moved it to Denver in The company employs more than people and manages and provides services to around arenas globally according to the company s website
