Trump Pardons Ex-OVG CEO Tim Leiweke in Bid-Rigging Case
In a surprising move, President Donald Trump has granted a “full and unconditional” pardon to Tim Leiweke, the founder and former chairman of Oak View Group (OVG), as announced by the Department of Justice on December 3. This decision comes in the wake of Leiweke’s indictment on a single count of bid-rigging related to the construction of the Moody Center at the University of Texas at Austin. The indictment accused Leiweke of colluding with former Legends Hospitality Group CEO Shervin Mirhashemi to submit a joint bid for the project, effectively undermining competitive bidding processes and harming public interests. OVG, which has been under scrutiny due to these allegations, recently appointed Chris Granger as its new CEO, emphasizing a commitment to delivering exceptional outcomes for its clients.
The pardon, which Leiweke’s representatives have celebrated as a chance for him to move past the legal troubles, has raised eyebrows given that the indictment was pursued by attorneys from the Justice Department’s antitrust division, led by Gail Slater, a Trump appointee. This controversial decision, which has not been accompanied by an official explanation from the White House, is part of a broader pattern of pardons that have sparked debate regarding the motivations and implications behind such actions. Notably, on the same day, Trump also pardoned former Congressman Henry Cuellar and his wife, who faced allegations of accepting bribes from a foreign oil company. The pardon for Leiweke was reportedly advocated by former congressman and Fox News host Trey Gowdy, indicating a network of political connections that may have influenced this outcome.
This unexpected turn of events not only impacts Leiweke’s future but also raises questions about the integrity of the bidding process in public projects and the role of political influence in legal proceedings. As OVG continues to navigate this tumultuous period, the industry will be watching closely to see how this pardon affects its operations and reputation, particularly in light of the serious allegations that prompted Leiweke’s initial indictment. The case serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding corporate governance, antitrust laws, and the intersection of politics and business in America today.
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President Donald Trump has issued a “full and unconditional” pardon of Oak View Group (OVG) founder and former chairman
Tim Leiweke
, according to a statement on the Department of Justice’s
website
published Wednesday (Dec. 3).
“We are happy for Tim that he can now put this matter behind him,” read a statement from an OVG spokesperson provided to
Billboard
. “OVG has remained steadfastly focused on delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients under the leadership of our CEO
Chris Granger
.”
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Granger was announced as
OVG’s new CEO
yesterday, five months after Leiweke’s resignation from the top position in July following his indictment by a federal grand jury.
Leiweke had been charged with a
single count of bid-rigging
for his work on the construction of the Moody Center in Austin, an accusation he vowed to fight in court. The boards of Leiweke’s company, OVG, and rival Legends Hospitality Group signed non-prosecution agreements in the case, which centered around an agreement Leiweke made with former Legends CEO
Shervin Mirhashemi
to submit a combined bid for the contract to build the Moody Center with the University of Texas at Austin. OVG agreed to pay $15 million in connection with the charges against Leiweke.
“As outlined in the indictment, the Defendant rigged a bidding process to benefit his own company and deprived a public university and taxpayers of the benefits of competitive bidding,” assistant attorney general
Abigail Slater
said in a statement at the time.
The White House did not release a statement explaining its decision to pardon Leiweke, who was indicted by attorneys led by Trump’s own appointee, Gail Slater, who serves as head of the Justice Department’s antitrust division. Also pardoned on Wednesday was former Congressman Enrique Roberto “Henry” Cuellar and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, for allegedly accepting bribes from a foreign oil company.
According to
CNN
, Leiweke’s effort to secure a pardon was led by former congressman and Fox News host Trey Gowdy.
