President Trump will grant a pardon to former San Francisco 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr., the White House announced on Tuesday.
DeBartolo pleaded guilty in 1998 to a felony charge of failing to report that a former Louisiana governor, Edwin Edwards, allegedly extorted $400,000 from him to win a casino license. DeBartolo paid $1 million in penalties and served two years of probation, but avoided prison time.
White House officials called an impromptu press gathering outside the West Wing to announce the pardon. Several retired NFL players, including Hall of Famers Jerry Rice, Charles Haley, Ronnie Lott and Jim Brown, told reporters they met with Trump about DeBartolo’s case. Continue reading.