PGA Tour's Phil Mickelson denies pulling strings to free insider-trading convict Billy Walters

ESPN reports that Mickelson says he had no role in clemency given to the sports gambler, who was convicted of insider trading

Denied: By Phil Mickelson, that he had played any role in the clemency extended to infamous sports gambler Billy Walters by outgoing President Donald Trump, according to a report by ESPN’s Bob Harig. Mickelson’s attorney, Glenn Cohen, told ESPN that “Phil had nothing to do with this,” adding that the PGA Tour's five-time major champion had neither called nor written with support for Walters, who was sentenced to five years for his role in an insider-trading scandal (“Billy Walters wins presidential clemency,” Jan. 21). Walters had been convicted after his role in the use of non-public information for the sale of Dean Foods Co. stock. Mickelson, who reportedly owed $2 million in gambling debt to Walters, was questioned by investigators regarding his involvement with Walters but ultimately was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing. However, Mickelson paid back nearly $1 million plus interest from ill-gotten gains from sale of the stock and was classified as a relief defendant. Walters was one of 144 criminals who received clemency from Trump in the final hours of the president’s term.

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