Skip to main content
Tags: NFL | Ray Rice | Kirsten Gillibrand | Roger Goodell

Sen. Gillibrand Rips 'Outrageous' NFL Handling of Ray Rice Case

Monday, 15 September 2014 11:47 AM EDT

New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has slammed the National Football League's handling of the Ray Rice battery scandal while revealing that Congress is likely to investigate the issue.

Rice, a running back, was released by the Baltimore Ravens and suspended indefinitely by the NFL after a video surfaced last week showing him in an elevator knocking out his then fiancee Janay Palmer, now his wife.

"I think the way the NFL handled this was awful," Gillibrand, a Democrat, said in an interview on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday. "It was outrageous."

Story continues below video.


She continued: "They had all the facts they needed. They had a player who admitted to beating his wife. They had video of him dragging her out an elevator. There was nothing left to determine. That player should've been fired immediately."

Gillibrand was one of 16 female senators who wrote to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last week, urging a "zero-tolerance policy" for players who commit acts of domestic violence against women.

Goodell has claimed the league had never seen the video of Rice punching his wife, although it had seen another tape of him dragging her unconscious body out of the elevator. But a law enforcement official has alleged that he sent the video of the beating to the NFL five months ago, according to CBS News.

"Initially I wanted [Goodell] to lead the reform to initiate a zero-tolerance policy," Gillibrand said. "If he lied to the American people, then he has to step down because he won't have the force of authority to change how they address these issues."

She added, "If the NFL doesn't police themselves, then we will be looking more into it. I wouldn't be surprised if we had hearings."

© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


US
New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has slammed the National Football League's handling of the Ray Rice battery scandal while revealing that Congress is likely to investigate the issue.
NFL, Ray Rice, Kirsten Gillibrand, Roger Goodell
293
2014-47-15
Monday, 15 September 2014 11:47 AM
Newsmax Media, Inc.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 
TOP

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the Newsmax App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved