Co-founder of Oak View Group, the arena company

Tim Leiweke

a.k.a. “The Arena Man”

Trump’s own Justice Department indicted him in 2025, accusing him of rigging the bidding for a University of Texas arena. He was pardoned before trial.

Rap sheet

Charged with: Conspiracy to restrain trade (bid rigging) [1]
Court: Western District of Texas [1]
Status: Never tried [1]
Granted: Full and unconditional pardon, December 2, 2025 [2]

The receipt

PARDONMAXXING TIM LEIWEKE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Wiped off the books

The trial [2][3] Cancelled

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Gold is money that was reportedly spent near the President’s orbit. Red is what the grant wiped away. We list what was reported and when. We don’t claim one caused the other. How we count.

Timeline

July 2025 The law Indicted by the Trump administration’s Justice Department. [3]
December 2, 2025 The pardon Pardoned before trial. [2][3]

Detective’s notes

Commentary

The same administration indicted him and then pardoned him. Soup to nuts.

Sources

Clemency grants by President Donald J. Trump, 2025–present (archived Sept. 20, 2026) U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney, via the Internet Archive
Signed clemency warrant: Tim Leiweke U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney · December 2, 2025
Trump pardons Tim Leiweke CNN · December 3, 2025