The Justice Department on Thursday promised to examine allegations that Washington, D.C.’s major league baseball team discriminated against one of its pitchers on religious grounds. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) sent a letter to the DOJ this week, requesting it probe concerns that the Washington Nationals discriminated against Trevor Williams and deliberately excluded him from social media branding due to his Christian beliefs. In response, the DOJ committed to evaluating “all appropriate next steps” in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “The Department of Justice has received Rep. Boebert’s letter on Major League Baseball and the issues it raises,” a spokesperson said. “The Department is reviewing the matter and will evaluate all appropriate next steps. As always, we remain committed to enforcing federal law and protecting civil rights.”
The debacle started when conservative media personality James O’Keefe’s group released an undercover camera conversation on Tuesday with Washington Nationals Director of Community Relations Sean Hudson. Hudson, who was unaware he was being recorded, appeared to confirm management retaliated against Williams for complaining that a Dodgers’ 2023 drag event mocked Catholics, seeming to say on video that “One of our pitchers, Trevor Williams, he’s super Christian-Catholic. … We don’t use him on social [media].” Hudson was placed on leave after the video was released, according to the O’Keefe media group.
