The Justice Department is looking into whether the Washington Nationals broke federal civil rights law, after a secretly recorded video surfaced of a team executive openly acknowledging he keeps a devout Catholic pitcher off the club’s social media because of the player’s religious views.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) fired off a letter Thursday to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Assistant AG for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon calling for a full investigation. Her letter followed a video published by Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe, in which Nationals Director of Community Relations Sean Hudson described the team’s treatment of pitcher Trevor Williams.
Hudson’s explanation was blunt. “Because of that we don’t use him on social [media],” he said on the recording. “When they’re like ‘is a hot dog a sandwich’ and the players come up, we don’t ask him.”
The “that” Hudson referred to: Williams publicly criticizing the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2023 Pride Night, where the team honored the Sisterhood of Perpetual Indulgence, a drag group that stages performances mocking Catholic nuns. At least three bishops called the event blasphemous at the time.
Hudson, who described himself in the video as “far-left leaning” and nonreligious, called Williams “super Catholic.”
Williams has not shied away from his faith. In an interview with Bishop Robert Barron, he said the Dodgers event featured “vulgar caricatures of the crucifixion and sacred rituals” and was “deeply offensive.” He and his wife decided to go public anyway.
“Baseball stadiums should be a place where everyone feels welcomed,” Williams said. “But that was clearly against one certain religion. If you don’t draw the line in the sand, who’s gonna do it?”
The Justice Department told Fox News Digital on Friday that it had received Boebert’s letter. “The Department is reviewing the matter and will evaluate all appropriate next steps,” a spokesperson said. “As always, we remain committed to enforcing federal law and protecting civil rights.”
Boebert’s case rests on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which bars employers from punishing workers over their religion. She said Hudson’s on-camera admission may be exactly the kind of violation Title VII was designed to stop.
“Americans of faith should not face professional repercussions for objecting to the mockery of their sacred traditions,” she wrote. “MLB’s privileged legal position should not become a license for exclusionary practices.”
She also asked Blanche and Dhillon to look at whether the practice runs broader across Major League Baseball.
The Nationals play at Nationals Park, steps from Capitol Hill, making them one of the most politically exposed franchises in the sport. As of Friday afternoon, Williams had not publicly addressed the video or the congressional action.
