Diana DeGette: Congress should investigate domestic violence in pro sports

WASHINGTON — Using the Ray Rice case as an example, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado urged House leaders on Wednesday to hold a hearing on "the problem of domestic violence by professional athletes," according to a letter released by her office.

Her request comes as a media storm rages around the release of a video that shows Rice, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens, attacking his then-fiancee at an Atlantic City hotel.

"Unfortunately, this is not the only incident of domestic violence among players in the NFL," noted the veteran Democratic lawmaker. "A USA Today database of NFL player arrests identified at least 33 separate incidents where NFL players on 22 NFL teams were charged with domestic violence or sexual assault in the past five years."

But DeGette, writing to colleagues on the House energy and commerce committee, warned that domestic abuse isn't limited to the NFL — though penalties "on players who commit such violence vary widely."

"As the Committee with primary jurisdiction over professional sports," she added. "We could play an important role in standing up for victims of domestic violence by asking professional sports leagues to explain in a public hearing how they are acting to educate their players about violence against women, what they are doing to prevent them from engaging in such violence, and whether they are administering appropriate punishments for athletes who commit violence against women."