President Trump pardons former 49ers owner DeBartolo Jr.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday granting a pardon to Edward DeBartolo Jr., the former San Francisco 49ers owner who was convicted in a gambling fraud scandal, according to The Associated Press.
DeBartolo was the architect of the 49ers dynasty in the 1980s and 1990s.
In 1998, DeBartolo pleaded guilty to failing to report a felony when he paid $400,000 to former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards in exchange for a riverboat gambling license.
The 73-year-old DeBartolo stepped down from his role the year prior after multiple newspapers reported that he would be indicted for gambling fraud. He ceded control of the 49ers to his sister, Denise DeBartolo York, whose family still runs the team.
DeBartolo avoided prison but was fined $1 million and suspended for a year by the NFL.
On Tuesday, the White House announced the decision to reporters alongside NFL legends Jim Brown and Jerry Rice.
Jerry Rice and other ex-NFL players are at the White House today.
- Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) February 18, 2020
Trump has pardoned Eddie DeBartolo Jr., the former owner of the 49ers who bribed a Louisiana governor.
"I take my hat off to Donald Trump for what he did," Rice said. pic.twitter.com/PzEihlyCPy
DeBartolo, who helped guide the 49ers to five Super Bowl wins, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
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