Catholic group urges DOJ to investigate religious discrimination inside Washington Nationals baseball

A Catholic advocacy organization is urging the DOJ to open an investigation into the Washington Nationals following the release of undercover video footage showing a team executive suggesting that pitcher Trevor Williams received less promotional support because of his Catholic faith.

In a letter sent Wednesday to Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, CatholicVote CEO Kelsey Reinhardt called for a probe of the Nationals over what she referred to as “possible unlawful religious discrimination” by the team against Williams, a practicing Catholic known for publicly expressing his faith.

The request follows the release of undercover video by journalist James O’Keefe in which Nationals' Director of Community Relations, Sean Hudson, described Williams as “very Catholic” and suggested the team doesn't feature him prominently on social media because of his criticism of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ decision to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a drag group known for satirical religious performances.

“If accurate, this statement is alarming,” Reinhardt wrote. “It suggests that a Major League Baseball franchise may have taken an adverse employment-related action, reputational action, promotional action, or workplace action against a player because of his religion and his sincere public expression of Catholic belief.”

The allegations have prompted questions about whether the Nationals could have violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of religion.

The Nationals have denied the claims. In a statement obtained by O’Keefe Media Group, Nationals' Account Executive for Membership Services, McKenzie Jordahl, said Hudson’s comments were “factually incorrect” and did not reflect the organization’s views or practices.

“The Nationals are dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for our players, fans and staff, and we vehemently deny allegations to the contrary,” Jordahl said.

“The statements are not only factually incorrect, but do not reflect the views, opinions or actions of the Washington Nationals,” Jordahl added. “The Nationals are dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for our players, fans and staff, and we vehemently deny allegations to the contrary.” 

Unsatisfied with that response, Reinhardt said in a post on X that CatholicVote had also sent a letter to Nationals' Managing Principal Owner, Mark Lerner, seeking clarification about whether Hudson’s remarks reflected any "formal or informal policy" and whether Williams had ever been excluded from promotional opportunities because of his faith.

The group also asked whether other players or employees had faced disparate treatment because of their religious beliefs, whether Hudson would face disciplinary action and what steps the organization would take to ensure that "Catholic players, employees, and fans are not subject to hostility, retaliation, exclusion, or discrimination because of their faith.” 

“The Washington Nationals still owe Catholics, Nationals fans, Major League Baseball, and their own players an immediate, top-level clarification,” Reinhardt wrote on X, dismissing the team’s initial response as “a boiler plate response from a lower-level official.”

Meanwhile, O’Keefe Media Group reported that Hudson has been placed on leave, according to a video update posted by commentator Alex Stein.