The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee wants answers from National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell about why it took months for him to view the elevator video that showed Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punch his then-fiancee.
Judiciary Committee ranking member John Conyers, D-Mich., sent a letter Wednesday to Goodell, signed by fellow panel Democrats, telling him lawmakers are “particularly concerned” about the NFL’s handling of the domestic violence incident involving Rice, who last month was given a two-game suspension for knocking out Janay Palmer, who is now his wife, in February.
Rice this week was released by the Ravens and indefinitely suspended from the NFL, but only after the celebrity gossip website TMZ published the video from inside the elevator that showed Rice swing at Palmer and knock her to the floor unconscious. Rice could then be seen in the video attempting to drag her out of the elevator.
Goodell is now under fire for not seeking the video sooner from the Atlantic City casino where the incident took place.
Goodell said he asked for the video but did not receive it.
Conyers said he wants to know more about that request.
“To our knowledge, the public has not been informed as to specifically how and in what context the request was made,” the letter states. “And specifically, how relevant law enforcement responded. Nor has there been a full explanation as to whether the video was requested from others … we therefore urge greater transparency and explanation of these matters.”
The NFL can’t ignore Congress, as it has the authority to revoke the league’s tax-exempt status, so expect Goodell to respond soon.
“We believe that these high-profile professional leagues are, in many ways, in a position of public trust and should be at the forefront of handling such incidents appropriately,” Conyers wrote to Goodell.
