Ex-Goldman Banker Leissner Seeks Pardon in 1MDB Fraud Case

Tim Leissner
Photographer: Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg

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By Patricia Hurtado and Aaron Gordon

January 22, 2026 at 7:15 PM UTC

Updated on

January 22, 2026 at 10:36 PM UTC

Tim Leissner, the former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. banker who admitted his role in one of the largest financial frauds in history, is seeking a presidential pardon before he surrenders to a federal prison.

Leissner filed his pardon application to the US Justice Department last year, according to a notice on the DOJ website. It was submitted between Sept. 3 and Nov. 18, according to archived copies posted on lawyeroyer.com.