Commanders president Jason Wright issued a statement late Wednesday that attempted to walk back an earlier statement that drew widespread backlash after the team invoked the shooting of running back Brian Robinson Jr. and blamed “out-of-control” crime in the District in response to the D.C attorney general’s upcoming “major announcement” about the franchise.
Earlier in the evening, a team spokesperson released a statement that ripped D.C. Attorney General Karl A Racine for appearing “more interested in making splashy headlines, based on offbeat legal theories, rather than doing the hard work of making the streets safe for our citizens, including bringing to justice the people who shot one of our players.”
The statement was widely criticized, including by Robinson’s agent. Ryan Williams, who represents Robinson, tweeted: “Up until an hour ago, the Commanders handled the Brian Robinson situation with so much care, sincerity and class, I was so grateful for all of it. Although I know that there are some great humans in that building, whoever is hiding behind this statement is not one of them.”
Around 10:30 p.m, the team released a statement through Wright — who appeared to blame the phrasing of the team’s earlier statement on the team’s outside legal counsel.
“I just spoke to Chief Contee, conveying how much we support the work of [the Metropolitan Police Department], as well as public safety leaders and elected officials working to reduce gun violence and crime across the region,” Wright said. “The earlier statement expressed our external counsel’s ongoing frustration with the Attorney General’s office, as they have been nothing but earnest and transparent in their communications with his team.
“The lawyers’ legitimate frustrations with the AG should have been separate and apart from referencing the terrible crime that affected our player.”
Robinson was shot twice in August when two teenagers attempted to rob him outside a restaurant in the District. Robinson suffered non-life-threatening injuries, though he is back to playing football after missing four games to start the season. The District’s police department made two arrests in the case within the last week, charging a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old with assault with the intent to rob while armed with a gun.
Mr. Racine is set to make his announcement related to the Commanders at 1 p.m. The attorney general office has been investigating the team for more than a year regarding allegations of workplace misconduct and financial improprieties.
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