President Donald Trump pardoned longtime sports and entertainment executive Tim Leiweke after he was criminally charged in July with bid-rigging related to the development of an arena at the University of Texas.

The Justice Department posted a notice of the pardon on its website on Wednesday afternoon. The notice was dated Dec. 2. The move stands out because the pardon comes just months after Leiweke was charged by the Justice Department under Trump’s administration.

Leiweke expressed “profound gratitude” to Trump. “The president has given us a new lease on life with which we will be grateful and good stewards,” he said in a statement.

The pardon also comes just before Leiweke is scheduled to be deposed by lawyers for the Justice Department and Live Nation Entertainment Inc. on Thursday

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