Boxer slams Goodell for not issuing ‘zero-tolerance’ policy

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) blasted National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell for not explicitly saying there is a zero-tolerance policy for domestic violence at his latest press conference.

On Monday, Boxer sent a letter to the NFL’s new senior vice president of public policy and government affairs, Cynthia Hogan, calling on her to do more to address domestic violence within the league.

{mosads}“You need to have zero tolerance as a stated goal in order to have policies that achieve it,” Boxer wrote. “You arrive at this job at a pivotal moment in history, and have the chance to make lasting and lifesaving changes in the days and months ahead.”

Boxer’s letter came after Goodell’s press conference on Friday, where he outlined the NFL’s policies regarding domestic violence. She said there were “glaring omissions” from his remarks.

“I never heard Mr. Goodell mention ‘zero tolerance’ for violence against women,” Boxer wrote. “Second, Mr. Goodell referred often to the role of law enforcement and our overall judicial system. However, as you know, most of these incidents are never reported to law enforcement.”

Lawmakers were quick to press the NFL on the issue of domestic violence after TMZ posted a video this month showing former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee, Janay Palmer, who was knocked unconscious. Rice’s original punishment from the NFL was a two-game suspension, but after the video was released and public outrage grew, the Ravens cut him from the team and the league suspended him indefinitely.

Previously, Boxer and several other female lawmakers sent a letter to Goodell asking him to issue a “zero-tolerance” policy.

This time Boxer made a personal appeal to Hogan, citing their previous collaborative efforts on passage of the Violence Against Women Act.

“I well remember the days when we worked together on the first Violence Against Women Act and I know how hard you have worked throughout your entire career to combat domestic violence,” Boxer wrote. “I look forward to hearing back from you and to working together again to combat violence against women in the NFL and throughout our society.”

Hogan had served as staff director for the Senate Judiciary Committee when Vice President Biden was chairman.