NY.- State prosecutors in New York and California announced Thursday that they are investigating a series of employment discrimination allegations in the NFL, citing a series of lawsuits filed by employees that described age, racial and sexual bias.
There were also complaints of sexual harassment and hostility in the work environment.
Prosecutors Letitia James of New York and Rob Bonta of California said they had issued subpoenas to NFL executives as part of an examination of the work culture at the league’s corporate offices in both states.
Both Democratic officials said they were exercising their legal authority to seek information from the NFL, regarding allegations of gender pay disparities, harassment, as well as racial and sexual discrimination.
The investigation is focused on the league’s corporate offices. It does not specifically mention any team or player.
“No person should ever experience harassment, discrimination or objectification in the workplace,” James stressed in a statement. Bonta said he and James have “serious concerns about the role of the NFL in creating an extremely hostile and harmful work environment.”
The league said it will cooperate with the investigation, but found the allegations “entirely inconsistent with the practices and values of the NFL.”
“NFL offices are places where employees of all genders, races and backgrounds need to thrive. We do not tolerate discrimination in any form,” the leaders said in a statement.
James and Bonta cited a 2022 New York Times report that detailed allegations of gender discrimination by more than 30 former NFL employees.
The women described a sexist culture in the NFL. They said it persisted despite commissioner Roger Goodell’s promises of reform after video was released in 2014 of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his fiancée.
