The lead investigator for the NFL in the Ezekiel Elliott case, Kia Roberts, recommended no suspension for the Dallas Cowboys running back, according to a report by Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Roberts testified in Ezekiel Elliott’s appeal stating that was she barred by senior advisor Lisa Friel from meeting with Goodell to discuss discipline for the Cowboys star.
Via Star-Telegram
The possible bombshell evidence came in the form of Kia Roberts, director of investigations for the NFL.
Roberts recommended no suspension for Elliott following her interviews with Thompson during the investigation _ a fact Roberts testified to during the appeals hearing with Henderson, according to a source.
But Roberts’ recommendation never made it into the NFL’s final report or the official suspension letter on Aug. 11, which cited the league’s findings of three instances of domestic violence by Elliott against Thompson based on the victim’s testimony and photographic evidence.
When NFL commissioner Roger Goodell conducted a meeting to discuss discipline for Elliott, it included Lisa Friel, the senior vice president for investigations, Jeff Pash, executive vice president and general counsel and Adolpho Birch, senior vice president of labor policy and government affairs, among others.
But Roberts was not at the meeting as Friel recommended a six-game suspension to Goodell. It was testified during the appeal hearing that Friel barred Roberts from the meeting, per a source.
So far it looks like the NFL botched another investigation.