Eddie DeBartolo Jr Pardoned by POTUS

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by SonocoNinerFan:
Cliffs notes; bribed the then Governor of LA to grease the tracks for approval of a Riverboat Casino . . . IIRC

He applied for a riverboat casino license, the governor of Louisiana, Edwin Edwards, demanded a payment of $400k in order for it to be approved.

Its like the difference between being pulled over by a cop for running a red light and offering him a $100 to forget it ever happened versus the cop demanding $100 from you to get off with a warning.

Originally posted by Niners_D:
To get his name cleared later in life or perhaps if he's feeling opportunistic, an interest in buying the Bucs? His primary residence is Tampa I believe.

Originally posted by PopeyeJonesing:
Exactly.

The state was building a case against the governor for extortion, and in exchange for his testimony DeBartolo received a reduced sentence (a fine and two years probation).

Probably also worth reiterating is that DeBartolo didn't lose the 49ers directly because of this; the NFL just barred him from participating in active ownership for one year.

What happened was that Eddie and Denise were splitting their (inherited assets), and Denise took the 49ers and Eddie took the rest of the family businesses because Denise had independent wealth from her marriage to John York (who had founded and sold DeYor Laboratories), whereas Eddie didn't have assets independent of the family businesses.

As for Trump pardoning him, it's a dumb publicity stunt.

Originally posted by Niners_D:
To get his name cleared later in life or perhaps if he's feeling opportunistic, an interest in buying the Bucs? His primary residence is Tampa I believe.

Originally posted by 16to87:
I believe Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, and Jim Brown lobbied for this. It wasn't Trump.

Originally posted by Goatie:
What a strange law. You get extorted for a bunch of money and don't report it probably because you are scared of the consequences of dobbing in a rich well connected dodgy politician and you are guilty of a crime. Victim blaming at its worse.

Originally posted by NJNiner:

I wonder if impotus is aware, this is Pelosi's favorite team?

Originally posted by 16to87:

I believe Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, and Jim Brown lobbied for this. It wasn't Trump.

Originally posted by kray28:

Trump is trying to use his office and sports to curry favor with voters....I hope all of you can see this for what it is. Eddie served no jail time, paid a fine and lost his team as a punishment...nothing that happens here changes that.

Originally posted by Fanaticofnfl:

Originally posted by 16to87:

I believe Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott, and Jim Brown lobbied for this. It wasn't Trump.

All the more reason why it's just so weird watching people get their panties in a bunch over this...

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:

Originally posted by Niners_D:
To get his name cleared later in life or perhaps if he's feeling opportunistic, an interest in buying the Bucs? His primary residence is Tampa I believe.

Eddie is 73 now and doing quite well running the business. At this point in life, he's probably more concerned about getting up several times a night to pee rather than owning a football team.