NFLPA to petition release of WFT investigation emails
The NFLPA intends to petition the NFL to release emails connected to a probe into reports of misconduct at the Washington Football Team workplace.
The NFL Players Association plans to request the release of the results of an NFL investigation into the Washington Football Team that was launched after dozens of former female employees complained of sexual harassment and a toxic workplace environment within the organization.
The NFL had reviewed 650,000 emails as part of its investigation, some of which were recently leaked, revealing that Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden had used racist, sexist, and homophobic language in many instances.
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Leaked emails lead to Gruden's resignation
Gruden abruptly resigned from his post after the messages he sent over a seven-year period to then-president of the Washington Football Team Bruce Allen and others were exposed. Included in the exchanges were topless photos of Washington cheerleaders that Allen sent to the former coach.
The NFLPA is now requesting that the other correspondence be made available as well, after discovering the wide range of offensive comments made by Gruden which offered some insight into sexual misconduct within the Washington team.
According to a report by Mike Jones of USA Today, the players’ union and NFL officials have talked about the matter.
“We have had communications with the league, and the NFLPA plans to request that the NFL release the rest of the emails,” said NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith, per Jones.
NFL won't release the rest of emails due to confidentiality
According to USA Today, the NFL does not intend to make the exchanges public because the review of the Washington Football Team work environment was classified.
However, the leak of the messages from Gruden calls into question the confidentiality of the emails.
Can't imagine Gruden is the only person implicated in 650,000 emails. Would have a huge fallout if this happens: https://t.co/YT1aRQ9ymv
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) October 12, 2021
Lawyers for ex-WFT employees say that the investigation findings must be made public, and that Gruden was not the only person who should be held accountable for his actions.
Statement from Lisa Banks and Debra Katz, attorneys for 40 former WFT employees, calling on the NFL to release the full findings of the investigation. pic.twitter.com/ah7rcnpd3u
— John Keim (@john_keim) October 12, 2021
The league completed the independent inquiry into Washington owner Daniel Snyder and the organization’s working conditions in July, after which the team was ordered to pay a fine of $10 million.