Congress Seeks Emails in Investigation of Washington Football Team

By Kelton Brooks Published: October 22, 2021

Congress Seeks Emails in Investigation of Washington Football Team

National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell delivers remarks during an event at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., launching an initiative between the Army and the NFL to work to raise awareness about traumatic brain injury. (Photo: U.S. Defense website / SSG Teddy Wade / Wikimedia Commons)

In Summary

An NFL spokesman said the league does not plan to reopen the investigation or release the 650,000 emails it collected.

After racist, homophobic and misogynistic emails from former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden surfaced in an internal investigation of 650,000 emails, the United States House of Democrats wants answers about the probe into the Washington Football Team.

A five-page letter was sent to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell demanding the league hand over investigation results into the WFT workplace culture.

In the letter, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.), chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) asked Goodell to produce the investigation by Nov. 4.

Congress demands “all documents and communications obtained in connection with the investigation into the WFT, its management, its owners, and any other matter relating to or resulting from the WFT investigation.”

The NFL previously stated they have no plans to reopen the investigation.

The emails were sent by Gruden to then-Football Team President Bruce Allen. Gruden resigned as head coach for the Raiders on Oct. 11. Gruden sent the emails when ESPN employed him as the lead analyst for Monday Night Football.

Gruden made racist remarks about NFLPA President DeMaurice Smith.

These idiots did an entire article about why Jon Gruden calling someone “rubber lips” in an email is not racist.

There’s only one problem with this revamped narrative: It’s not AT ALL what Jon Gruden said https://t.co/NwNFY5srYh pic.twitter.com/T6rQB2VKKy
— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) October 20, 2021

According to the report, Gruden also called Goodell a “fa—t” who should not have pressured then-Rams coach Jeff Fisher into drafting “queers,” according to the report. The Rams made openly gay Michael Sam a seventh-round draft pick in 2014.

Fisher came out and spoke against the report.

Jumping on Twitter to clarify the below.
Hope everyone is doing good.😎👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/4bqFDUYSR6
— Jeff Fisher (@CoachJeffFisher) October 13, 2021

Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib became the first openly gay active player to appear in this year’s regular season. Nassib took a “personal day” after the remarks by Gruden came to light.

“We have serious concerns about what appears to be widespread abusive workplace conduct at the WFT and about the NFL’s handling of this matter,” the letter states.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy responded, “We have received the Chairwoman’s letter and share her concern that all workplaces should be free from any form of harassment and discrimination. We look forward to speaking to her office soon.”