Chris Kluwe’s Lawyer Threatens Lawsuit Against Minnesota Vikings
By Sarita Kelly
When it was announced on Thursday that special teams coordinator Mike Priefer would be keeping his job with the Minnesota Vikings many were not surprised, except for Chris Kluwe.
Kluwe’s attorney Clayton Halunen has condemned the investigation into alleged anti-gay remarks made by Priefer. Halunen has said the investigation was as a “charade” and is pledging to sue the organization.
Jun 11, 2013; Eden Prairie, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings special teams coach Mike Priefer gets ready for the Minnesota Vikings Minicamp at Winter Park. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
“My one word description is ‘outrageous,’ ” said Halunen after the Vikings announced Priefer would be retained as part of head coach Mike Zimmer’s staff.
“It’s almost unimaginable that there’s a pending investigation regarding whether or not this guy engaged in homophobic, hate-filled behavior and without even a conclusion in the findings they’ve retained this person as a coach, as a leader.”
The Vikings began investigating the allegations after Kluwe wrote an artice on January 2nd for the website Deadspin.com. Kluwe accused Priefer of making homophobic remarks during the 2012 season and alleges that his release last May was related to his activism for same-sex marriage.
“It’s unbelievable to us,” Halunen said of the decision to keep Priefer on the coaching staff. “It shows that the Vikings are not sincere about this supposed investigation, that it’s a mere charade, and at the end of the day they’re going to cover up this.
“It’s just a matter of when we begin litigation. That’s the only question in my mind now. Do we immediately file suit or do we wait and see if we get the confirmation we get from their supposed investigation?”
Halunen said Magnuson and Madel had led him to believe the Vikings would wait until after the investigation to decide whether to retain Priefer.
“Obviously, that has not become true,” he said. “They (already) have a decision after they had apprised us, all along, that they would share with us their findings before they made a decision.”
But the decision to keep Priefer doesn’t mean he will be with the team in 2014. Priefer was already under contract for next season and it would be a smart move on behalf of the Vikings to wait until the investigation is over to figure out the next step.
Both sides will have their answers on what to do next when the investigation is expected to wrap up in March.