A medical watchdog says that the Cleveland Clinic is taking hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding while pushing race-based programs and policies.
Do No Harm, an organization dedicated to depoliticizing medicine, reported Monday that the Ohio clinic is engaged in a range of “discriminatory behavior.” This behavior includes recruitment strategies explicitly for minorities, minority-exclusive scholarships, and adopting “supplier diversity” policies. 
“The Cleveland Clinic used to be synonymous with excellence,” Do No Harm Director of Research Ian Kingsbury told The Daily Wire. “Now, it’s becoming an avatar for everything that is wrong with American health care. It’s a sorry tale about the displacement of rigor and dispassionate truth seeking in favor of identity politics.”
According to analysis from Do No Harm, the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine is currently the recipient of around $170 million in <a href="https://reporter.nih.gov/search/kibuq7GWB06JcSYdkf2zpA/projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">active grant funding</a> from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Around $50 million of this goes toward “indirect” costs while the Cleveland Clinic Foundation has over $5 million in <a href="https://reporter.nih.gov/search/4-9dnUYGF0OnO697kttYaA/projects" target="_blank" rel="noopener">active projects</a> from the NIH, according to Do No Harm. 
The clinic has also pushed a number of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. 
One of the examples cited by Do No Harm included a July 2020 $1.2 million five year <a href="https://archive.ph/LaqAT#selection-423.109-423.130" target="_blank" rel="noopener">grant</a> given to the Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland State University with the goal of increasing the “number of minority scientists in Cleveland area.”
The goal was to recruit “underrepresented minority Ph.D. students and students underrepresented in the science and technology workforce,” and which NIH <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200627052807/https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-20-031.html">defined </a>at the time as “Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.” This excluded both whites and Asians. 
“In other words, the NIH grant empowered Cleveland Clinic to engage in racially discriminatory recruiting practices,” Do No Harm said of the program. “It’s no wonder, then, that Cleveland Clinic has embraced wholesale the race-centric DEI agenda.”
The clinic told The Daily Wire that it does not discriminate based on race or gender.
&#8220;For over 100 years, Cleveland Clinic’s mission has been to care for life, research for health and educate those who serve. We do not discriminate or create preferences based on race, gender or any other characteristics, and we abide by ethical and legal standards of care with respect to our delivery of healthcare services,&#8221; the clinic said. &#8220;Cleveland Clinic is a nonpartisan organization and we neither have nor promote a political agenda.&#8221;
Do No Harm also drew attention to the clinic&#8217;s Howley ASPIRE nursing program, an initiative designed for high school juniors interested in nursing. While the program description does not mention race, promotional materials produced indicate it was designed specifically for minorities. 
“In providing these opportunities, ASPIRE seeks to address the underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minorities in nursing. More than 30 percent of the U.S. population is Black/African-American or Hispanic/Latino, according to the Census Bureau — yet less than 13% of nurses fall into those categories,” an <a href="https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2020-fall/aiming-high" target="_blank" rel="noopener">article</a> in the Cleveland Clinic Magazine for the fall of 2020 says. 
Another example was the “Scholarship for Underrepresented Students” at the Anesthesiology Residency program at Cleveland Clinic. This opportunity, which was advertised as for &#8220;underrepresented&#8221; students, has been removed from the <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/anesthesiology/medical-professionals/clerkships" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clinic’s website</a> though it can still be found on <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240915095020/https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/anesthesiology/medical-professionals/clerkships" target="_blank" rel="noopener">archived</a> pages. 
Do No Harm also pointed out that the Cleveland Clinic has implemented “supplier diversity” goals which <a href="https://www.clevelandclinic.org/total-rewards/8_69_Diversity%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">are meant</a> to “increase the number of underrepresented vendors doing business with Cleveland Clinic.”
“Do No Harm welcomes additional scrutiny of bad actors like Cleveland Clinic who use their position to inject harmful and radical ideologies into the medical field,” the organization said in its analysis. “These discriminatory practices must be exposed and condemned in order for excellence in medicine to be restored, and for merit (and not race) to be championed.”
The clinic previously came under scrutiny from Do No Harm over DEI-related programming. 
In September, the Department of Health and Human Services’s Office of Civil Rights <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feds-investigating-after-cleveland-clinic-accused-of-treating-white-individuals-differently" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that it was investigating the Cleveland Clinic over its promotion of its “Minority Stroke Program” and the “Minority Men’s Health Center.” That investigation came after the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) filed a complaint with the department on behalf of Do No Harm. 
In recent weeks, the conservative group Consumers’ Research has also been engaged in a public campaign against the Cleveland Clinic, saying that it has pushed racial and gender ideologies. Consumers’ Research Executive Director Will Held told The Daily Wire that the federal funding going toward the clinic needed to be scrutinized. 
“Revelations like this are exactly why President Trump&#8217;s executive action against DEI is so important,” he said. “HHS has a duty and obligation to investigate the full extent of the federal government&#8217;s funding of Cleveland Clinic. American taxpayers have a right to know if their money is being used to fund an extreme political agenda that includes racial discrimination and the mutilation of vulnerable children&#8217;s bodies.&#8221;
The clinic responded to the campaign by saying that it is &#8220;riddled with inaccuracies and lies.&#8221;
President Donald Trump issued an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-and-wasteful-government-dei-programs-and-preferencing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">executive order</a> on his first day in office eliminating DEI from the federal government and cutting federal funding for DEI programs.
The Cleveland Clinic told The Daily Wire that it was &#8220;reviewing and evaluating our programs following the recent executive orders.&#8221;

Cleveland As Ohio Covid-19 Cases Surge

EXCLUSIVE: Cleveland Clinic Pushes ‘Discriminatory’ Programs While Taking Fed Cash, Watchdog Says

Cleveland

Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Medical Research

Ohio

Wokeness

The Cleveland Clinic, which ranks as one of the best hospitals in the country, &#8220;proudly prioritizes race-based care, DEI, gender ideology, and climate activism over patients,&#8221; a new opposing ad campaign claims.
The new six-figure <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy5oznBwIVo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ad campaign</a>, called &#8220;Cleveland Clinic Exposed,&#8221; was launched last week by Consumers&#8217; Research, a conservative organization that has educated Americans about policies and products for nearly a century.
&#8220;Is Cleveland Clinic the wokest hospital in America?&#8221; the group&#8217;s ad <a href="https://consumersresearch.org/woke-alert/woke-alert-cleveland-clinic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asks</a>. &#8220;They prioritize care based on skin color, perform child sex changes, push transgender propaganda on vulnerable kids, insert DEI into everything they do, and spend millions on climate activism.&#8221;
The ad highlights a statement from the Cleveland Clinic&#8217;s CEO and president, Dr. Tomislav Mihaljevic, who <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/-/scassets/files/org/about/community-reports/sustainability-global-citizenship-report/gri-index-2023.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in 2023: &#8220;Providing high-quality healthcare is only a part of our mission.&#8221;
The ad against the Ohio-based clinic was scheduled to run during a Cleveland Cavaliers basketball game against the Toronto Raptors earlier this month. However, it was pulled from FanDuel Ohio after &#8220;significant external pressure,&#8221; said Will Hild, executive director of Consumers&#8217; Research,
The Cleveland Cavaliers said that it was an &#8220;an organization decision&#8221; to push for the ad to be pulled.
&#8220;This was not done at our request, and we are disappointed this is the decision they came to. We firmly believe the Cleveland community and potential patients should be informed about the priorities of Cleveland Clinic, which put politics ahead of quality care,&#8221; Hild said in a statement to The Daily Wire.
The Cleveland Clinic also sent Consumers&#8217; Research a cease and desist letter, using the same law firm Hild said his group uses for many legal matters. Hild called the letter &#8220;both pathetic and demonstrably false.&#8221;
&#8220;We gladly ignore the clinic’s intimidation tactics and will continue to pressure Cleveland Clinic until it&#8217;s proven they&#8217;ve ceased and desisted from discriminating against patients and performing child sex changes,&#8221; Hild said.
Hild also accused the clinic of &#8220;covertly deleting web pages.&#8221; The Cleveland Clinic appears to have quietly <a href="https://dailycallernewsfoundation.org/2025/02/17/huge-red-state-healthcare-system-quietly-scrubs-website-of-pages-pushing-gender-ideology/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">removed</a> some of the web <a href="https://archive.ph/35jDy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pages</a> on child transgender medicalization since the ad campaign launched.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Hey <a href="https://twitter.com/ClevelandClinic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ClevelandClinic</a>, got your Cease &amp; Desist letter from <a href="https://twitter.com/JonesDay?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JonesDay</a>&#8230;
It&#39;s both pathetic and demonstrably false. Happy to help educate you and your lawyers 🧵 <a href="https://t.co/VyiWYfPgG8">pic.twitter.com/VyiWYfPgG8</a>
&mdash; Will Hild (@WillHild) <a href="https://twitter.com/WillHild/status/1890102147754393673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The campaign <a href="https://clevelandclinicexposed.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">breaks down</a> how the Cleveland Clinic is allegedly &#8220;focused on a political agenda, not what&#8217;s best for patients.&#8221;
It takes aim at the clinic over gender ideology, accusing it of transgender medical interventions on children.
According to the Stop the Harm database, the Cleveland Clinic has <a href="https://stoptheharmdatabase.com/state/ohio/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prescribed</a> puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to dozens of people, including children.
In a statement responding to the campaign, the Cleveland Clinic <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/ad-attacks-cleveland-clinic-woke-118863820" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> it does not provide transgender surgeries for patients under the age of 18.
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The campaign also points out that the Cleveland Clinic&#8217;s DEI chief <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/podcasts/studies-in-empathy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a 2023 podcast episode that diversity and inclusion &#8220;has to be embedded in everything that we do.&#8221;
In 2020, during the peak of the riots related to the death of George Floyd, the clinic supported the city of Cleveland in <a href="https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2020/06/03/cleveland-clinic-supports-cleveland-city-council-resolution-declaring-racism-a-public-health-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declaring</a> racism a &#8220;public health crisis.&#8221;
Also in 2020, the clinic <a href="https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2020/12/11/cleveland-clinic-joins-coalition-to-create-one-million-jobs-for-black-americans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">joined</a> a coalition of large U.S. employers committing to hire and promote one million black Americans over the next 10 years.
Last year, the Cleveland Clinic was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cleveland-clinic-accused-of-racial-discrimination-over-health-clinic-for-minority-men" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sued</a> for allegedly prioritizing people for treatment based on race through its Minority Stroke Program and Minority Men’s Health Center.
The next month, the Department of Health and Human Service’s Office for Civil Rights <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feds-investigating-after-cleveland-clinic-accused-of-treating-white-individuals-differently" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opened</a> an investigation into whether the Cleveland Clinic had discriminated against white patients based on race.
&#8220;So in other words, not only are they discriminating against their own employees in the workplace, they&#8217;re also treating different patients differently based on their skin color, which I think is obviously egregious,&#8221; Hild said.
The Cleveland Clinic&#8217;s climate activism is also problematic, the ad campaign says, citing the clinic&#8217;s 2016 launch of a $7.5 million fund to &#8220;drive energy efficient projects across health system,&#8221; among other moves.
&#8220;You&#8217;ve got pushing irreversible transgender, quote unquote, care or what I call genital mutilation on children. You&#8217;ve got them discriminating against their staff, but also their patients, and then you have them pushing their own environmental virtue signaling, which is going to do nothing but raise costs for consumers. So that&#8217;s where we got the line that they may be the wokest hospital in America,&#8221; Hild said.
In addition to its television spots, mobile billboards for the ad campaign are running outside the Ohio Statehouse, the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus, and the Florida State Capitol, Consumers&#8217; Research said.

Doctor writing a medical prescription

Cleveland Clinic Prioritizes Race, Gender Ideology Over Patients, Ad Campaign Says

Cleveland Clinic Prioritizes Race, Gender Ideology Over Patients, New Campaign Says

Gender

Transgender

transgender surgery

Transgenders

Federal officials have opened an investigation into the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cleveland-clinic-accused-of-racial-discrimination-over-health-clinic-for-minority-men" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cleveland Clinic</a> over its race-based programs after a conservative legal firm accused the healthcare provider of racial discrimination. 
The Department of Health and Human Services&#8217;s Office of Civil Rights said last week that it was investigating the Cleveland Clinic over its promotion of its “Minority Stroke Program” and the “Minority Men’s Health Center,” according to a <a href="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/09/Cleveland-Clinic-Complaint-Acknowledgment-24-585977.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> from HHS shared with The Daily Wire. 
The department was alerted to the programs by the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL), which filed a complaint on August 14 on behalf of Do No Harm accusing the clinic of engaging in racial discrimination. Do No Harm is an organization dedicated to depoliticizing medicine. 
In response to the complaint, HHS official Daniel Shieh wrote to WILL on September 10 informing them that the agency was opening an official inquiry into allegations that the clinic “treats white individuals differently from certain racial and ethnic minorities in the tailoring and provision of services.” 
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amiracist.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1726339437969000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1t1diGHUEA8OQvqgQURby3">Am I Racist? Is In Theaters NOW — Get Your Tickets Here!</a>
“OCR has reviewed the complaint and has determined that it has sufficient authority and cause to investigate the allegations under its authorities,” Shieh wrote. “Therefore, we have initiated an investigation and will contact you should we need any additional information.”
WILL lawyer Cara Tolliver told The Daily Wire that the Minority Stroke Program and the Minority Men’s Health Center disregard care for an “entire class of individuals” who are not deemed minorities. 
“The problem however is that these patient programs are limited to certain racial minorities and segregated on the basis of race which violated anti-discrimination laws,” Tolliver told The Daily Wire. “HHS’s decision to open an investigation into Cleveland Clinic is a hopeful step forward to illuminating unlawful uses of race in healthcare in favor of an individualized and race neutral approach to medicine that conforms with law.” 
The clinic, which has some 48,000 employees, says that its <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/neurological/depts/cerebrovascular/minority-stroke-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">minority stroke program</a> is “focused on preventing and treating stroke in racial and ethnic minorities” and increasing “stroke awareness among minority groups in order to lower stroke rates and improve stroke outcomes.”
&#8220;Our mission is to care for life, research for health and educate those we serve,&#8221; the clinic told The Daily Wire. &#8220;Our job in fulfilling our mission is to care for all individuals across the communities we serve regardless of race, ethnicity, or other characteristics.&#8221;
Tolliver noted that the clinic did not have any other racially-focused programs for white people, who may have higher rates of Parkinson&#8217;s disease or skin cancer.
After the complaint was filed last month, the clinic <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cleveland-clinic-scrubs-race-based-center-from-website-after-complaint" target="_blank" rel="noopener">removed references</a> to the Minority Men’s Health Center from its website, telling The Daily Wire that the center “has not been in place for several years.” It said that the minority stroke program “is still active and is open to all patients.” 
If HHS determines that Cleveland Clinic is in violation of the law, the clinic may voluntarily comply and adapt the programs. If it refuses, its access to federal funds could be suspended or terminated. 
Tolliver said that health care providers should not focus on skin color but treatment, and that racially-focused programs could be “particularly problematic and dangerous.”
“These types of health equity initiatives are relying on broad stereotypes about race to assume needs and they’re inherently overlooking individuals who are in need or would benefit from special care or attention,” she said.

Cleveland Clinic

Feds Investigating Cleveland Clinic For Allegedly Treating ‘White Individuals Differently’

Department of Health and Human Services

Health Care

Racism

Controversy has broken out in a suburb near Cleveland, Ohio, between a police officer and the police chief after the officer decided to take another job and the police chief said he could not take his police K9 with him.
Shaker Heights police officer Chad Hagan, who has worked with the six-year-old German shepherd, named Igor, since 2018, said that he told Police Chief Wayne Hudson that he was considering other law enforcement opportunities; he wanted a job enabling him to work closer to home. Hagan’s wife Danielle <a href="https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/12/09/shaker-heights-police-reject-handlers-offer-buy-k9-after-years-duty/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, “First thing that was said to him by the chief was we need to figure out what we’re going to do with Igor. That kind of struck Chad the wrong way. He wasn’t saying he was leaving. So, when that happened he was like ‘well wow’&#8230;That kind of a slap in the face.”
“We offered $10,000 of our own money and to be honest, I guarantee Chad would have paid more than that. But, the chief came back and said no financial number will be considered,” she continued, adding, “He’s been with us through our first home, our forever home, marriage, having a baby. Been with us through everything.”
The City of Shaker Heights <a href="https://shakeronline.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=485&amp;fbclid=IwAR0vMZxHSceP2ykwEGZjMJVm7v4o7sBj4hIS0Jzt4PTPTUk_UWzPTKJhNnw_aem_AReTnSBfOndi_qlhS6yftWfeyJXL0yQnQIktOL0uWiDPWuibQDsVxf_9hMjq8G_1G7I" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued a statement</a> offering their side of the story. They stated:
<blockquote>
In November, Officer Hagan told Shaker Heights Police Chief Wayne Hudson that he would be resigning to take a position with another department and that he wanted to take Igor. Even though Igor has an expected three or four years of service before likely retirement, as an accommodation, the Chief offered Officer Hagan the option to stay only two more years with the SHPD and then permit Igor to retire. Officer Hagan rejected this offer.
</blockquote>
The city added, “Officer Hagan proposed purchasing Igor. However, according to the City’s laws, the City’s administration, including the Chief, has no authority to sell the dog.” The city then quoted a 2019 city ordinance that states, “A City Police officer who leaves the City&#8217;s canine unit while the Police Dog assigned to the officer is still fit for duty forfeits the right to purchase the animal under this section.”
“It was intended to follow a State law enacted in 1998 (Revised Code Section 9.62), to allow an officer to purchase their canine for $1.00 if the “Dog is injured in the line of duty, becomes disabled and is unfit for duty, or grows too old to be fit for duty&#8230;” the city said, adding, “An unnamed “local and national group of individuals” has accused the Chief of retaliating against Officer Hagan and of acting out of spite and with vindictiveness. Chief Hudson, in fact, tried to convince Officer Hagan to stay with the SHPD and met with the Officer in a respectful hearing that included leadership staff. Further, the Chief acted within the law in declining to sell Igor to the officer.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This story has received international attention, and petitions are out, but still no results! Please pass this around!
A Shaker Heights, Ohio Police Officer, Chad Hagen, is moving his family to another city, and gave Police Chief Wayne Hudson his 2-week notice on Thanksgiving.… <a href="https://t.co/ys5PSlfkAH">pic.twitter.com/ys5PSlfkAH</a>
&mdash; 🇺🇸ProudArmyBrat (@leslibless) <a href="https://twitter.com/leslibless/status/1733866061030650045?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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A <a href="https://www.change.org/p/bring-k9-igor-home?source_location=petitions_browse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">petition</a> launched to keep Igor with the Hagan family claimed Hudson told Hagan, “It (K9 Igor) is a tool and there is no financial amount that would be considered.”
Igor is presently kept in a kennel until further arrangements can be made.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Here&#39;s where K9 Igor has been sent to continue his service&#8230; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaveK9Igor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaveK9Igor</a> <a href="https://t.co/24HbO01lhh">pic.twitter.com/24HbO01lhh</a>
&mdash; James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealJamesWoods/status/1734291259026727075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Police K-9 in Patrol Car

Controversy Erupts When Cop Leaving Job Wants To Keep K9, Police Chief Refuses

Controversy Erupts When Cop Leaving Job Wants To Keep K9 Dog, Police Chief Refuses

Police

Over 100 Catholic schools in Cleveland will no longer tolerate LGBTQ+ affiliation or behaviors.
The changes came from <a href="https://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/offices/parish-life/marriage-and-family-ministry/human-sexuality/human-sexuality-gender" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new guidelines</a> on sexuality and gender issued by the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland at the close of last month. In a press release, the diocese clarified that the guidelines were a formal policy version of existing church teachings on the subject.
“Since questions of sex, sexuality, and gender identity have become increasingly prevalent in our society, it is our hope that the policy will help to ensure these matters are addressed in a consistent and authentically Catholic manner across our diocesan institutions and diocesan Catholic schools, and that those we serve will have a clear understanding about expectations and accommodations related to those matters,” stated the diocese.
The <a href="https://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/files/assets/parish-and-school-policy-on-issues-of-sexuality-and-gender-identity.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">policy</a> requires parental notification in the case of minors experiencing gender dysphoria or confusion; declares that parental rejection of a child’s preferred pronouns don’t constitute grounds for nondisclosure; bans use of preferred pronouns; restricts bathroom and facility usage to biological sex; prohibits admission of students to institutions, programs, and activities like sports designated for the opposite sex; bans same-sex dates to school dances and mixers; requires students to comply with dress codes aligning with their biological sex; bans any celebration or advocacy of LGBTQ+ ideologies or behaviors, such as Pride flags; and bans gender transitions of any degree, whether social or medical.
The policy acknowledged the existence of gender dysphoria, but rejected the modern belief that feelings determine truth.
“This understanding erases those intentional, embodied distinctions between men and women. As such, this view is contrary to the divinely revealed reality of our true, God-given human nature,” stated the policy.
Under the policy, individuals experiencing gender dysphoria or same-sex attraction would be admitted into their schools and allowed to participate in activities, with the contingency that they don’t openly express their disagreement with Catholic teachings on sex, sexuality, and gender.
Reverend Edward Malesic, the Bishop of Cleveland, stated in an accompanying <a href="https://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/files/assets/gender-policy-cover-letter.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> that biological sex coincides with God’s divine plan.
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“The human person is a unity of body and soul; we experience the world through our bodies, and it is through the virtuous expression of our bodies that we reveal God,” said Malesic. “Through times of questioning and confusion, we must accompany our brothers and sisters in Christ with compassion, mercy, and dignity so that we might lovingly help them navigate the confusion and arrive at truth.”
Malesic directed those with further questions or concerns to contact the diocese’s Marriage and Family Office. He also noted that the <a href="https://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/offices/parish-life/marriage-and-family-ministry/human-sexuality/human-sexuality-gender" target="_blank" rel="noopener">guidance page</a> would be updated regularly with additional information and resources on the subject.
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he believed the policy represented a “shocking betrayal” of church teachings. Bibb offered his own definition of Christian faith, sans Scripture.
“For me, faith is about universal love and acceptance,” said Bibb. “Instead, the new policy forces LGBTQ+ kids to hide their authentic selves and attend schools in fear of persecution for who they are.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
As a Christian, the new Catholic Diocese of Cleveland anti-LGBTQ+ policy is a shocking betrayal of the Church teachings that have shaped who I am today. 
Read my statement below👇🏾 <a href="https://t.co/rYU07h1qqb">pic.twitter.com/rYU07h1qqb</a>
&mdash; Justin M. Bibb (@JustinMBibb) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinMBibb/status/1701574774613213677?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Ohio’s Democratic minority leader for the Senate, Nickie Antonio, said the diocese should not be given school choice funds over the policy.
“I am extremely disappointed that the diocese has chosen to focus on policies of exclusion over acceptance,” said Antonio. “State taxpayer dollars should not subsidize exclusionary education, and if these policies stand, then the diocese should not accept state-funded vouchers.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
My Statement regarding the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Policy Change 
“I am extremely disappointed that the diocese has chosen to focus on policies of exclusion over acceptance,” said Leader <a href="https://twitter.com/nickieantonio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nickieantonio</a> <a href="https://t.co/5zeRWNzZyt">pic.twitter.com/5zeRWNzZyt</a>
&mdash; Nickie J. Antonio (@nickieantonio) <a href="https://twitter.com/nickieantonio/status/1701733515891449972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Pride Flag

Cleveland Catholic Schools Ban All LGBTQ+ Affiliation And Behaviors

Catholic Church

Education

LGBTQ

U.S.

An Ohio man has been charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, and more after police found a 60-year-old woman “stuffed and folded into a small, black tote” in his home.
Dalontay Edmond-Geiger, 31, of Cleveland, allegedly stabbed and beat the woman, whose name is not being released. She is being treated for life-threatening injuries at MetroHealth Medical Center, WOIO <a href="https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/05/09/cleveland-police-find-woman-stuffed-tote-home-citys-west-side-graphic/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
A police report obtained by the outlet said that officers were called to the crime scene around 3:30 p.m. on May 2 after a woman called 911 from a nearby store to say a woman was tied up in the basement. Officers went to the home and Edmond-Geiger claimed he was a confidential informant, telling police they needed to leave because they were “making this place hot,” WKYC <a href="https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/crime/cleveland-police-officers-find-woman-stuffed-inside-tote-suspect-in-custody/95-fdb03551-6d4a-4eb9-b7c9-b5ef86e38404" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. After about 30 minutes, however, he let them search the basement. Police found an air mattress and nothing else.
Later that evening, police asked a woman in the area if she knew anything about the house. The woman, according to the police report, told officers that a woman had been brutally attacked in the home and that the suspect had actually shown her pictures of the attack, WOIO reported. The woman said that she, Geiger, and two other people had been stopped by vice officers two separate times a few days earlier. Geiger apparently believed that the woman he allegedly kidnapped had been a “snitch.”
Around midnight, police returned to the home. An officer in the living room reported that he heard moaning, and that every time he heard it, Edmond-Geiger allegedly turned up the volume of music on his phone.
Officers tracked the moaning to the front porch and questioned Edmond-Geiger repeatedly about the sound. Eventually, he admitted that there was someone stuffed inside the tote, the police report said. Police found the woman and were able to free her.
Edmond-Geiger reportedly tied the woman up and stuffed her in the tote. After his arrest, he allegedly told police that he had moved her body from room to room to avoid police finding her as they searched the home.
“I have seen a lot of truly terrible cases over the years, and this one is one of the most horrific I’ve seen,” Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O&#8217;Malley said in a statement, according to WKYC. “Thankfully, law enforcement found her alive, and I am praying for her recovery.”
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Edmond-Geiger is currently being held on a $500,000 bond at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center. His next court date is scheduled for May 18 at the Cleveland Municipal Court. He is charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, felonious assault, and evidence tampering, WOIO reported.

bound human hands

60-Year-Old Woman ‘Stuffed’ Into Storage Container, Freed When Police Heard ‘Moaning’ At Suspect’s Home

60-Year-Old Woman 'Stuffed' Into Storage Container, Freed When Police Heard 'Moaning' At Suspect's Home

Crime

kidnapping

Just in time for the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/christmas">holidays</a>, fans can purchase the original house used in “A Christmas Story.” 
The 1.3-acre property, located at 3159 West 11th Street in the Tremont neighborhood of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/cleveland">Cleveland</a>, Ohio, was just listed for sale on its official <a href="https://www.achristmasstoryhouse.com/forsale/">website</a>.
Real estate agent Chad Whitmer confirmed that the listing includes the house, the Bumpus house, a 4,000-square-foot gift shop, a museum, and several vacant lots that the home’s current owner has purchased. No price was given, but the Zillow estimate on the house alone is $188,000. Due to the popularity of the home and the additional buildings, it will likely sell for a lot more than that.
The house was built in 1895 and used while filming the Christmas movie, which went on to become a cult classic. The film was based on the 1966 book, “In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash,” and focused on an average middle-class family in the 1940s. The main character Ralphie is hoping to get a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-Shot Range BB gun for Christmas. 
After falling into disrepair, the home used in the movie was sold on eBay in December 2004 and renovated to resemble how it appeared in the film. Public tours began in November 2006, the website noted, and since then, more than one million fans have come to see the property. 
Per the website, the museum “features the largest collection of original costumes, props, behind-the-scenes photos and other items from the movie.” A detached garage includes a 1939 Ford LaFrance firetruck just like the one featured in the film.
&#8220;It is definitely exciting for the city of Cleveland,&#8221; Whitmer <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/a-christmas-story-house-ohio-listed-sale-just-time-christmas-definitely-exciting">told</a> Fox News digital of the listing becoming available. “They have turned [the home] into something special.&#8221; The Ohio-based agent said he expects the property to sell for somewhere in the eight figures.
Whitmer also noted that there’s an opportunity for new owners to expand the business even further. &#8220;[The property] lends itself to expansion,&#8221; he told Fox News, saying he wants the buyer to &#8220;make it into something even more special for the city of Cleveland.&#8221;
Fans are also looking forward to a new film titled “A Christmas Story Christmas,” a sequel to the original that features “grown-up” Ralphie (Peter Billingsly) who “must deal with Christmas and all that comes with it, this time as a dad,” according to the description from the streaming site, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-christmas-story-sequel-will-drop-this-year-heres-when-to-expect-it">reported</a>. 
“A Christmas Story Christmas” debuts on HBO Max on November 17.

a street shot of the ‘A Christmas Story’ house

Original ‘A Christmas Story’ House Goes Up For Sale In Cleveland

Original 'A Christmas Story' House Goes Up For Sale In Cleveland

Christmas

Entertainment

Movies

Real estate

Two pro fishermen in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ohio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ohio</a> caught some rage along with their fish on Friday.
After Chase Cominsky and Jake Runyan were declared winners at the weigh-in at the Lake Erie Walleye Trail Championship (LEWT) in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/cleveland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cleveland</a>, their fellow competitors found some bizarre items stuffed in their catches, TMZ <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2022/10/01/pro-fishing-champs-cheating-scandal-stuffed-walleye-weights/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. Video of the incident shows someone cutting open the fish and pulling out what appears to be lead weights and even the filets of another fish that the men had allegedly stuffed down the throats of their catches to make them heavier.
Multiple people can be heard urging someone to “call the cops” and file a police report over the alleged <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/cheating" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cheating</a> scandal.
“You got thousands of f***ing dollars you stole from everyone!” someone accuses.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Serious Controversy in Pro fishing tournament as multiple-time winners caught stuffing lead weights and other fish filets in their fish to have the heaviest catch to win hundreds of thousands in prizes. <a href="https://t.co/Sxqeo2XC0K">pic.twitter.com/Sxqeo2XC0K</a>
&mdash; Billy (@Billyhottakes) <a href="https://twitter.com/Billyhottakes/status/1576246821139070976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The two fishermen have been accused of cheating in the past, <a href="https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/outdoors/2022/10/01/cheating-scandal-rocks-lake-erie-walleye-tournament/stories/20221001117" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to The Toledo Blade.
Winners of the tournament receive cash prizes of up to $100,000 and are determined by the weight of their five largest catches, according to the LEWT <a href="https://lakeeriewalleyetrail.com/tournament-rules-bwwc-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>. Another prize goes to the largest single walleye caught. The official Facebook page for the event said the latest incident proved there was cheating during the competition.
“Disgusted guys and gals, I’m sorry for letting you down for so long and I’m glad I caught cheating taking place in YOUR LEWT at the same time,” Tournament Director and police officer Jason Fischer said, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BigwaterwalleyechampionshipsLEWT/posts/604538611459391" target="_blank" rel="noopener">adding</a>, “I hope you know now that when I say ‘you built this LEWT and I will defend its integrity at all costs,’ I mean it. You all deserve the best.”
Pro fishing hasn&#8217;t been the only sport plagued by an alleged cheating scandal recently. Last month, the number one chess player in the world <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/unprecedented-worlds-1-chess-master-resigns-after-one-move-against-suspected-cheater" target="_blank" rel="noopener">resigned</a> against 19-year old Hans Niemann, who was widely suspected of cheating against him in a recent tournament.
Although Niemann has admitted cheating twice in online games when he was younger, calling them mistakes he made because he was young, he denied claims he had cheated against Magnus Carlsen. Chess.com countered Niemann’s claims and showed evidence that he had cheated more frequently.
Hank Berrien contributed to this report.

Walleye

‘Thousands Of F***ing Dollars You Stole From Everyone’: Outrage At Pro Fishing Tournament After Winners Allegedly Caught Cheating

Outrage At Pro Fishing Tournament After Winners Allegedly Caught Cheating

cheating

Fish

Sports

Deshaun Watson, the superstar quarterback the Cleveland Browns signed to a record-breaking deal even as a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/were-looking-at-this-seriously-deshaun-watson-could-still-face-discipline-from-nfl">messy sex scandal</a> hung over his head, learned Monday how long he will be suspended in the upcoming season: six games.
Watson, who has been accused of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct by 25 female masseuses between March 2020 and March 2021, is not expected to appeal the decision. Two Texas grand juries declined to indict him on criminal charges and he has settled out of court with all but one of his accusers.
The punishment was handed down by NFL disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson, a former federal judge, for violations of the league&#8217;s personal conduct, a source told ESPN&#8217;s Adam Schefter. According to Schefter, Watson, who signed a fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million contract with the Browns earlier this year, will not be fined.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Deshaun Watson will serve a six game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy following accusations of sexual misconduct, disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson ruled Monday, a source told Adam Schefter. <a href="https://t.co/1x3cpIOLT0">https://t.co/1x3cpIOLT0</a> <a href="https://t.co/n1WW6JXIe2">pic.twitter.com/n1WW6JXIe2</a>
&mdash; ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1554083499971321858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Robinson, whose salary is paid jointly by the league and the NFL Players Association, was expected to suspend Watson for as long as a full season. Either the league or Watson and the NFLPA would have three days to submit an appeal in writing.
Cleveland moved on from former No. 1 overall pick <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/2080032/baker-mayfield/">Baker Mayfield</a>, its starter since 2018, when it signed Watson. Mayfield&#8217;s acrimonious exit came when the team managed to trade him to the Carolina Panthers for a late-round draft pick and an agreement to pay a large portion of his salary.
The Browns now have one of the best rosters, built to contend immediately. Until Watson is cleared to play, journeyman <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/1877247/jacoby-brissett/">Jacoby Brissett</a> is set to be the starter.
Watson, who played college football at Clemson before being a first-round pick of the Houston Texans in 2017, is widely considered an elite quarterback. He helped lead Houston to a pair of winning records from 2017-2020, throwing a career-high 33 touchdowns in his last season on the field. He sat out all of 2021 in a contract dispute with the team, which forced the trade.
To land him, the Browns gave up their first-round draft picks in 2022, 2023, and 2024, as well as their third-round pick in 2023 and fourth-round picks in 2022 and 2024.
Last month, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34248377/houston-texans-settle-claims-vs-team-relation-sexual-misconduct-allegations-involving-deshaun-watson">the Texans reached settlements with 30 women</a> who threatened to sue the organization for its alleged role in the allegations against Watson.
Robinson heard arguments from the league, the union, and Watson&#8217;s attorney Rusty Hardin during a three-day hearing held in her home state of Delaware in late June.
Under the suspension, Watson will still be able to participate in practice during the preseason. He will also be allowed to return to the Browns to practice after sitting out the first three games, according to the league&#8217;s collective bargaining agreement.
Watson has denied any wrongdoing and said he has no regrets for any of his actions during the massage sessions. Watson also said he cooperated with the NFL&#8217;s investigation and &#8220;answered every question truthfully&#8221; that he was asked by the league&#8217;s investigators.

Cleveland Browns Introduce Quarterback Deshaun Watson

Browns’ Superstar QB Deshaun Watson Learns Fate In Massage, Sex Scandal

Browns' Superstar QB Deshaun Watson Learns Fate In Massage, Sex Scandal

Football

Sex Scandal

Embattled <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nfl">NFL</a> superstar <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/explained-why-the-fbi-is-involved-in-the-deshaun-watson-case">Deshaun Watson</a> has reached a confidential settlement with 20 of the two dozen masseuses who have accused him of sexual misconduct.
The quarterback, who the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/cleveland">Cleveland</a> Browns signed to an unprecedented $230 million guaranteed contract earlier this year, is awaiting word from the league about <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/were-looking-at-this-seriously-deshaun-watson-could-still-face-discipline-from-nfl">likely disciplinary action</a>. Although two Texas grand juries <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/24/sports/football/deshaun-watson-texas-grand-jury.html">declined</a> to indict him, per The New York Times, Watson is expected to be suspended for as long as the entire upcoming season. Watson <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2021-nfl-trade-deadline-keeping-deshaun-watson-could-prove-beneficial-for-texans-but-its-also-a-gamble/#:~:text=NFL%20Free%20Agents-,2021%20NFL%20trade%20deadline%3A%20Keeping%20Deshaun%20Watson%20could%20prove%20beneficial,but%20it's%20also%20a%20gamble&amp;text=The%20Houston%20Texans%20organization%20has,assault%20civil%20lawsuits%20against%20him.">sat out</a> all of 2021 amid an unrelated dispute with the Houston Texans, according to CBS Sports.
“Today I announce that all cases against Deshaun Watson, with the exception of four, have settled,” Tony Buzbee, the attorney for the plaintiffs, said in a statement. “We are working through the paperwork related to those settlements. Once we have done so, those particular cases will be dismissed. The terms and amounts of the settlements are confidential. We won’t comment further on the settlements or those cases.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚: Browns QB Deshaun Watson settles 20 of 24 lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct<a href="https://t.co/13S6veScmJ">https://t.co/13S6veScmJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/6O7z1bAKXS">pic.twitter.com/6O7z1bAKXS</a>
&mdash; Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/AroundTheNFL/status/1539287849371021312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The women all claimed that Watson forced himself on them after paying for their massage services. The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/07/sports/football/deshaun-watson.html">reported</a> that there are as many as 40 more women Watson hired for massages, but it is not known if any of them intend to sue or file criminal complaints.
Watson, 26, was scheduled for depositions this week, but those have been canceled. The 2017 first-round pick of the Texans out of Clemson has been an elite-level quarterback, but the sex scandal continues to cast a cloud over him. The Browns were one of at least three teams that sought to acquire him from the Texans, eventually giving up three first-round picks and more, despite knowing they may be without his services for an indefinite period.
The NFL conducted its own investigation, and any punishment it metes out under its personal conduct policy would not be dictated by civil or criminal cases.
Watson&#8217;s attorney, Rusty Hardin, declined comment Tuesday when <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/browns/2022/06/21/deshaun-watson-browns-settles-lawsuits-allege-sexual-misconduct-massages/7688001001/">contacted</a> by USA Today.
One of the plaintiffs electing not to settle is Ashley Solis, who was the first masseuse to sue Watson.
“The cases against Deshaun Watson started with one phone call, from one brave and strong woman,” USA Today quoted Buzbee, who still represents Solis. “As a result of Ashley’s lone but brave voice, soon many women who had allegedly experienced the same conduct were emboldened to step forward.”
In 2020, the last season in which he played, Watson led the NFL with 4,823 yards passing and threw 33 touchdown passes against just seven interceptions.
Although the signing drew sharp criticism, many Cleveland Browns fans believe Watson could be the missing piece that carries the organization to the playoffs or even to what would be its first-ever Super Bowl appearance.

Houston Texans v New Orleans Saints

Embattled NFL Superstar Settles With 20 Masseuses Who Accused Him Of Sexual Misconduct

Embattled Browns QB Settles With 20 Of The Masseuses Accusing Him Of Sexual Misconduct

Sexual Misconduct

Maybe returning to Cleveland for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game is making LeBron James nostalgic. After all, it’s only a 40-mile drive from his hometown of Akron, Ohio, to Cleveland, and James was able to deliver one of the more improbable NBA championships to the Cavaliers organization in 2016.
His move to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018, tied with his somewhat shaky relationship with Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, would point to his time in Cleveland uniform being a thing of the past. But sometimes a return to your roots reminds you of the good times, and James isn’t ruling out one more opportunity to don a Cavaliers jersey. 
“The door’s not closed on that,” James <a href="https://theathletic.com/3138844/2022/02/19/could-lebron-james-return-to-cleveland-again-the-doors-not-closed-on-that-he-says/">told</a> The Athletic on Saturday. “I’m not saying I’m coming back and playing, I don’t know. I don’t know what my future holds. I don’t even know when I’m free.”
Well, James will be “free” next summer, when his current contract with the Lakers expires. At that time, he’ll be 38-years-old and preparing for his 21st NBA season. While James is certainly at the tail end of his career — father time comes for us all — his numbers still jump off the page. Even surrounded by a Lakers roster that is going nowhere, James is averaging 29.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game, while shooting 35.% from beyond the arc. You can bet that all 30 NBA teams would happily give James whatever he demands even as inches closer to 40. 
It’s obvious that James still has things he&#8217;d like to accomplish, including winning a fifth championship and surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. But he also has a very different goal. Playing in the NBA with his son, Bronny. 
“My last year will be played with my son,” James <a href="https://theathletic.com/3138844/2022/02/19/could-lebron-james-return-to-cleveland-again-the-doors-not-closed-on-that-he-says/">told</a> The Athletic. “Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point.”
Bronny is currently a junior in high school, and won’t be eligible to enter the league until the 2024 NBA Draft, when James will be 39-years-old. 
“Life. Life just changes,” James <a href="https://theathletic.com/3138844/2022/02/19/could-lebron-james-return-to-cleveland-again-the-doors-not-closed-on-that-he-says/">told</a> The Athletic when asked why he left Cleveland the second time. “You have a mission and you have more goals that you want to set out, you know? When I won a championship here, I didn’t think that I would go anywhere, because I felt like I was complete. And then I realized that I still wanted to, I wanted to reach another level. I wanted to reach another level, so it wasn’t done. My life goal wasn’t complete.”
It’s a telling answer. James has always been difficult to predict, but he’s certainly putting the league on notice with his latest comments. Bronny is currently ranked by ESPN as the 43rd prospect in the class of 2023, but his NBA stock just skyrocketed thanks to his dad’s comments. If drafting Bronny means acquiring the services of arguably the game&#8217;s greatest all-time player, Bronny will be a hot commodity in 2024. 
James still has a decent amount of basketball in him, and maybe one final chapter in his illustrious NBA career.
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Utah Jazz v Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James Not Ruling Out Return To Cleveland, Will Play With Son In Final NBA Season

LeBron James

Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Malik McDowell was arrested on Monday for aggravated assault on a police officer and public exposure in Deerfield Beach, Florida, according to the Broward Sheriff&#8217;s Office online records. 
McDowell is accused of a “violent attack” on a police officer which left the deputy “dazed,” according to the <a href="https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/deerfield-beach/fl-ne-malik-mcdowell-arrested-nfl-deerfield-beach-20220118-sg6yrlqzbbbghawunlva45tzrq-story.html">South Florida Sun Sentinel</a>. He reportedly was found walking naked near a school and attacked the officer when approached. The officer said McDowell “charged at me &#8230; at full speed with closed fist,” injuring the police officer in the process. 
“We are aware of the very concerning incident and arrest involving Malik McDowell and are in the process of gathering more information. We understand the severity of this matter and our thoughts are for the well-being of all involved. We will have no further comment at this time,” the Browns <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/01/18/browns-lineman-malik-mcdowell-arrested-for-attacking-a-deputy/">said</a> in a statement issued on Tuesday.
McDowell’s attorney suggested that the football player might have been given something which altered his behavior.
“Apparently somebody may have slipped him something or given him something he was unaware of, which explains some of his bizarre behavior,” McDowell’s defense attorney <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/01/18/browns-lineman-malik-mcdowell-arrested-for-attacking-a-deputy/">said</a>.
TMZ provided <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2022/01/18/cleveland-browns-malik-mcdowell-naked-arrest-caught-video/">video</a> of the arrest, where McDowell can be seen fully naked with his hands handcuffed behind his back. 
According to the Sun Sentinel, this is the fourth arrest for McDowell. He was arrested in September 2017 for a DUI, and once again in December 2017 for disorderly conduct. He was also arrested in February 2019 for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, assault and resisting arrest, and was suspended for two games by the NFL. According to the New York Post, McDowell spent 66 days in jail for the crime. 
He played college football at Michigan State and was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was released by Seattle in March 2019, and spent the 2021 season with the Browns, appearing in 15 games and recording 33 tackles and 3.0 sacks while recovering one fumble. 
McDowell&#8217;s opportunity with the Browns was seen as a second chance in the NFL.
“For me, my career is at stake,” McDowell <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2022/01/browns-defensive-tackle-malik-mcdowell-arrested-in-florida-for-public-exposure-battery-against-officer.html">said</a> in August according to Cleveland.com. “My livelihood, taking care of my family, just to do what the every day person can’t do, go out there in front of thousands of fans and play a game and get paid lost of money to do it. That’s a lot of people’s dreams and I get to live my dream.”
“I know what my life could be without football and the stuff I fell into without playing football,” he said prior to the season, “and I just wanted to get some more structure back in my life, I didn’t have enough structure in my life around that time. So my driving force really is just where I was at. I’m in the best place I can be right now, so that’s really my driving force.”
This article has been expanded after publication to include additional information.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/penalties-bizarre-final-play-call-ends-dallas-cowboys-season">Penalties, Bizarre Final Play Call Ends Dallas Cowboys&#8217; Season</a>
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.

NFL: NOV 21 Lions at Browns

Cleveland Browns Defensive Tackle Arrested, Charged With Public Exposure And Attacking Police Officer