Former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe says the team has finished its investigation into his allegation that he was subjected to harassment and hostility for speaking out in favor of gay marriage, but that the team is now breaking its promise to release the results of that investigation.
Kluwe will hold a news conference today in response to what he says is the Vikings’ failure to grant him access to the report from the independent investigators who were hired by the team.
“Kluwe and his attorney will voice their concerns about the Minnesota Vikings’ reneging on a promise to release a copy of their investigation into allegations of homophobic behavior by a coach,” a press release announcing the news conference says. “On Monday, July 14, the Vikings informed Kluwe’s attorney that they would not provide a copy of the report to either Kluwe or the public.”
If the Vikings have concluded their investigation and are now refusing to make the report public, that strongly suggests that the investigation found wrongdoing within the organization. If the investigation cleared the team and its staff, why wouldn’t the Vikings say so publicly?
Kluwe, who was the Vikings’ punter from 2005 to 2012, says that special teams coach Mike Priefer began using homophobic comments toward him after Kluwe began to publicly support gay marriage. Kluwe also believes the Vikings’ decision to release him was fueled in part by his advocacy. The Vikings have said Kluwe was released solely for football reasons.