- Casino
- By State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- By State
- Slots
- Poker
- Sports
- Esports
Phil Mickelson Denies Lobbying for Billy Walters’ Commuted Sentence
The White House issued a release with a list of 143 people, who either received commuted sentences or were pardoned by President Donald Trump in his last hours of office.
White House Release Says Phil Mickelson Lobbied for Walters
Just a few hours before leaving office, President Donald Trump pardoned 74 people and commuted the sentences of 70 others. The list of 143 people, which was made public early Wednesday morning, included gambler William “Billy” Walters. In 2017, Walters was sentenced to five years in prison on federal insider-trading charges.
The White House said a number of golf industry figures, including swing coach Butch Harmon, broadcaster David Feherty, former pro Peter Jacobsen, former CBS News anchor Lara Logan and five-time major winner Phil Mickelson lobbied the President on Walter’s behalf. Phil Mickelson and the rest of the people were pointed out in the White House’s statement as sponsors of the action for Walters.
Mickelson Denies Involvement in Walters’ Clemency
However, Mickelson’s lawyer Glenn Cohen rejected any connection of the Hall of Famer with Walters’ pardon. On Thursday, attorney Cohen told ESPN that “Phil had nothing to do with this” and said that Mickelson did not send any letter or make a phone call to support Walters’ release. Mickelson’s lawyer said:
“The press release referencing Phil Mickelson is erroneous. The reason we are upset is because it’s untrue.”
Walters, a Las Vegas professional gambler, real estate mogul and philanthropist, was convicted in 2017 on 10 counts, including securities fraud, conspiracy and wire fraud. He was sentenced to five years in prison for making $32 million in profit and avoiding another $11 million in losses by trading insider information on Dean Foods, which he obtained from former company chairman Thomas Davis. Along with his prison sentence, Walters had to pay a $10 million fine.
Phil Mickelson was allegedly involved in the scheme by receiving a stock tip from Walters. According to the complaint, Mickelson earned nearly $1 million after Walters advised him in 2012 to acquire stock in Dean Foods. However, Mickelson was not charged with wrongdoing.
The gambler was released from prison in May due to the Covid-19 pandemic and was serving the rest of his sentence under house arrest. Back then, The Securities & Exchange Commission said Walters allegedly gave the advice to Mickelson so he could profit from a stock jump and repay him for gambling debts. Mickelson was ordered to return his $931,000 in profit from the stock trades.
Related Topics:
Although Fiona doesn't have a long-spanning background within the gambling industry, she is an incredibly skilled journalist who has built a strong interest in the constantly growing iGaming network. The team at Gambling News is glad to have her on our roster to help deliver the best stories as soon as they hit. Aside from writing, she loves to dabble in online casino games such as slots and roulette, both for her own enjoyment and also as research to better improve her understanding of the industry.
Next Article
Industry
January 23, 2021
Hard Rock Casino near Bakersfield, CA Receives Federal Approval
Must Read
Industry
July 8, 2025
Trump’s Gambling Tax Cap Draws Divided Opinions
More Articles
Casino
July 11, 2025
IGT Reveals Multiple Jackpots Throughout June
Sports
July 11, 2025
DraftKings to Give Back Over $3M to Connecticut Users
Casino
July 11, 2025
Caesars Introduces Digital Wallet in Nevada
Sports
July 10, 2025
NJ Bans Sportsbook Deals With Public Colleges
Casino
July 10, 2025
Mohegan Sun Guest Wins $2M Gambling in Spanish 21