Source Says Rice Video Sent To NFL
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (WJZ) -- Who's telling the truth? A report that an NFL executive had the video for more than five months casts doubt on the commissioner's story that he only saw it Monday.
Investigator Mike Hellgren has more.
Another ugly twist in the infamous Ray Rice video scandal. The Associated Press says a law enforcement source revealed he sent a DVD copy in April to an unnamed NFL executive. The source got a voicemail from an NFL number expressing thanks for the video. The person then said, "You're right. It's terrible."
The source says the NFL never followed up.
Right now, it's not clear if Commissioner Roger Goodell viewed the tape. He stressed in an exclusive CBS News interview that he did not.
"We asked for video but we were never granted that opportunity," he said. "No one in the NFL [saw the video before Monday]."
In a new statement, the NFL says it's looking into allegations laid out in the AP report.
The Ravens also denied seeing the tape before this week. Top management spoke first to WJZ's media partner, the Baltimore Sun.
"What we saw on the video was what Ray said. Ray didn't lie to me," said Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome.
"I think if he gets permission to come back to the league, I think it's safe to assume that he's done here," said Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti.
New Jersey's Senate president says the court treated Rice's assault like a traffic ticket. He wants a full investigation.
"Tome people need to receive the punishment they're due the first time around," Steve Sweeney said.
Rice himself is surrounded by family at home in Owings Mills. He spoke to a CBS Radio host. Click here for more.
The law enforcement source who says he gave the NFL the video in April says he wanted the league to have it before deciding on Rice's punishment.
In a statement from the NFL, it was announced that former FBI director Robert S. Mueller III will conduct an independent investigation into the situation. The statement continued, "Director Mueller's investigation will be overseen by NFL owners John Mara of the New York Giants and Art Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the final report will be made public. Mara and Rooney are both attorneys. Commissioner Goodell pledged that Director Mueller will have the full cooperation of NFL personnel and access to all NFL records. Mueller served as director of the FBI for 12 years (2001-2013) under two presidents. He is currently a partner in the law firm of WilmerHale and is based in Washington, DC."
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