Record at a Glance
- Clemency type
- Pardon
- Presidential term
- 2017–2021
- Federal district
- Middle District of Louisiana
- Offense
- Misprision of a felony
- Sentence
- Two years' probation; $250,000 fine; $350,000 restitution (October 6, 1998)
- Current status
- DeBartolo Holdings identifies DeBartolo as founder and chief executive officer. Florida’s entity registry lists DeBartolo Holdings LLC as active and identifies him as a manager; these are bounded business-status sources, not a legal-status determination.
Original Case
Edward DeBartolo Jr., then owner of the San Francisco 49ers, became involved in a Louisiana riverboat-casino licensing dispute in which the state’s governor demanded a payment. DeBartolo pleaded guilty on October 6, 1998 to failing to report the felony, a single count of misprision of felony—not extortion or bribery. He received two years of probation, a $250,000 fine, and $350,000 in restitution.
Clemency
February 18, 2020: full and unconditional pardon of the specified E.D. La. information and § 4 conviction, with the sentence terms identified in the signed warrant.
Trump Connection
DeBartolo’s clemency campaign drew support from NFL figures and Trump associates, including team owners Robert Kraft and Jerry Jones, former players Jim Brown, Ronnie Lott, Charles Haley, and Jerry Rice, and pastor Darrell Scott. The White House emphasized his philanthropy and anti-gang work. Trump granted the pardon at a White House event attended by several advocates; the record does not show that the underlying guilty plea was invalidated.
Since Clemency
2026-08-08 · public appearance
The Pro Football Hall of Fame's event account documented DeBartolo joining former San Francisco 49ers players on stage following Roger Craig's enshrinement remarks.
Legal Status: Institutionally documented public appearance; no new legal disposition or business appointment is established.
- Development Source
Class of 2026: Roger Craig's long wait ends with Pro Football Hall of Fame EnshrinementPro Football Hall of Fame2026-10-24
- Development Source
Sources
- Primary Documentation
DOJ: Pardons Granted by President Donald J. Trump (2017–2021)U.S. Department of Justice2026-09-24 - Primary Documentation
DOJ clemency document: Edward J. DeBartolo Jr.U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney2026-09-24 active - Primary Documentation
White House clemency announcementArchived White House - Primary Documentation
Signed executive grant of clemency, February 18, 2020DOJ / President of the United States - Primary Documentation
Times-Picayune Publishing Corp. v. DOJ, 37 F. Supp. 2d 472 (E.D. La. 1999)U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana opinion (mirror) - Primary Documentation
Florida entity record, DeBartolo Holdings LLCFlorida Department of State - Supporting Reporting
DeBartolo Holdings leadershipDeBartolo Holdings