It’s Wednesday, October 13th, and this is your Morning Wire. Listen to the full podcast:
1) Exclusive: School Allegedly Tried To Hide Sexual Assault
The Topline: As Loudoun County Public Schools sought to pass a controversial transgender policy in June of this year, it appeared to conceal that a ninth-grade girl was allegedly raped by a “gender fluid” boy in a Loudoun school bathroom just three weeks prior.
Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post/Contributor via Getty Images
The Allegations
In May, Scott Smith, the victim’s father, was called to the school over a physical assault involving his daughter. When he arrived, it became clear to him that the situation was even worse. When he learned the school was dealing with it “in-house,” he became upset and the school called the police on him because of the outburst. But when law enforcement arrived, they began to investigate the situation.
His lawyer said a rape kit administered that day later came back favorable to the prosecution and prosecutors brought multiple felony charges against the boy. While records for minors are sealed, law enforcement have since confirmed that sexual assault charges were later filed based on the incident that day.
School Board Meeting
Smith had never been to a school board meeting, but he attended one where a transgender policy was being discussed. At the meeting, the superintendent said he didn’t know why the public was so opposed to the policy because school records show the school has never had any assaults in bathrooms, and that the idea of the “transgender predator” didn’t exist.
Smith said a leftist activist confronted him after the meeting, and when he explained why he was there, she said she didn’t believe his story. Cops saw a heated exchange and intervened. Smith jerked his arm away, and soon he was wrestling with the cops, who arrested him for disorderly conduct.
Present Day
Last week, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office announced that a 15-year-old student had sexually assaulted another girl in an empty classroom in a school about a mile away from the school where Smith’s daughter went.
Daily Wire investigative reporting found it was the same student who’d allegedly raped Smith’s daughter. The school system had only transferred the boy to another school in the district.
In-Depth: Read the full story on The Daily Wire.
Lynda M. Gonzalez-Pool/Pool/Getty Images
2) Abbott Bans Vaccine Mandates
Quote Of The Day: “So, today, I’m calling on more employers to act. My message is require your employees to get vaccinated. With vaccinations, we’re going to beat this pandemic finally.”
— President Joe Biden
Executive Order
In the past, Abbott had taken action to make it so no governmental entities could create vaccine mandates, but the new order extends the protection against vaccine mandates to private companies.
The order stated, “[n]o entity in Texas can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine by any individual, including an employee or a consumer.” Objections to the vaccination, it said, include “personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID-19.”
He also pressed the Texas legislature to pass a similar bill making the decision law. Abbott has said the executive order would be rescinded if that goes through.
Why Now?
Abbott’s reasoning may be due to President Biden’s mandates. Biden announced last month that all employers with over 100 employees needed to require workers to be fully vaccinated or undergo weekly testing before coming to work.
In his executive order, Abbott also said the Biden administration is “now bullying many private entities into imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, causing workforce disruptions.”
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines ordered mass flight cancellations all over the country this past weekend and some speculated it might be the result of an employee walk-out due to vaccine mandates.
The airlines’ headquarters are based in Dallas, Texas, but they said that “Federal action supersedes any state mandate or law, and [they] would be expected to comply with the President’s Order to remain compliant as a federal contractor.”
Chris Unger/Stringer/Getty Images
3) NFL Coach Resigns After ‘Offensive’ Email Leak
The Topline: Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden has resigned after emails were discovered dating back to 2011 which showed him using language many considered offensive.
The Situation
Last Friday, The Wall Street Journal published a report regarding an email Gruden sent to then-president of the Washington Redskins Bruce Allen in 2011. The email was discovered during the NFL’s investigation of workplace misconduct inside the Washington Football Team organization.
In the email, Gruden was talking about the executive director of the NFL Players Association, DeMaurice Smith, who is black.
Gruden said, “Dumboriss Smith has lips the size of Michelin tires,” which was viewed as racially insensitive by the NFL, the Raiders organization, and many people online.
Gruden apologized and said he was upset at the time of the email as he didn’t like how the players were going about the negotiations, with a lockout on the horizon at the time.
More Emails
On Monday night, The New York Times published additional emails the NFL discovered in their investigation including emails that are being slammed as homophobic and misogynistic.
As reported by the Times, Gruden sent emails while he was working as an analyst for Monday Night Football to Allen and others regarding female referees in the NFL, homosexual players being drafted, and the topic of players protesting the national anthem.
According to the report, Gruden called NFL commissioner Roger Goodell a gay slur. Goodell appears to be the subject of many emails, with Gruden using similar language when referring to the commissioner.
The emails were sent between 2011-2018 and included criticism of Goodell for his attempt to reduce concussions in the game of football, which Gruden reportedly felt was discouraging parents from allowing their children to play the game of football.
According to the Times, Gruden also felt that Goodell and the NFL should not have pressured the Rams to draft “queers,” a reference to Michael Sam, the first openly gay player drafted by the NFL in 2014.
Gruden also spoke negatively of players kneeling during the National Anthem saying that Eric Reid — a player known for protesting the National Anthem — should lose his job. He also criticized Barack Obama and called then vice-president Joe Biden a curse word.
Gruden resigned Monday night.
Stephanie Keith/Stringer/Getty Images
Other Stories We’re Tracking
Gabby Petito
A Wyoming coroner announced Tuesday that 22-year-old Gabby Petito died by strangulation. Petito and her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, had been traveling across the country, documenting their travels on social media when she went missing. Laundrie is currently the subject of a massive FBI manhunt.
Pfizer Vaccine
Concerns about myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart, is causing several countries to recommend a single-dose protocol for the Pfizer vaccine for minors. Health officials in Hong Kong are now recommending a single dose for children ages 12-17, whereas England and Norway are recommending one dose for children ages 12-15. According to the CDC, myocarditis remains a rare side effect and typically resolves within 2 weeks.