Blumenthal Calls on NFL to Issue Stiffer Penalty for Ravens Runningback Ray Rice

(Hartford, CT) – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today reiterated his call for the NFL and the Baltimore Ravens to increase the penalty on Ravens running back Ray Rice for a February domestic violence incident in Atlantic City, NJ, after new video showed the football star punching his then-fiancee in the head.

“The video released today emphasizes how egregiously weak and wrong the initial penalty against Ray Rice was – as the Commissioner has acknowledged – and it constitutes new, powerful evidence that requires the Commissioner to reconsider and reach a stronger punishment,” Blumenthal said. “The NFL took a positive step forward with its new policy on domestic violence, but in the wake of this new video, allowing Ray Rice to take the field after only a two-game suspension would be a disappointing step backwards.”

Senator Blumenthal, along with Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), in July sent a letter to Commissioner Goodell and the Baltimore Ravens calling on them to develop procedures for handling domestic violence and to impose a stiffer penalty on Ray Rice.