New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has rejected allegations that he and Donald Trump attempted to pay a US senator to abandon an investigation into a team cheating scandal. The claims were published in an ESPN report on Wednesday, which said Trump met the late senator Arlen Specter in 2008 and offered him “money in Palm Beach” in exchange for ending his inquiry into the Spygate affair.
At the time, the Patriots were disciplined by the NFL for filming an opponent’s coaching signals. Trump, then best known as the host of reality television show The Apprentice, is said to have been acting on behalf of Kraft. However, those close to the former president and the team have denied the story.
Jason Miller, a senior adviser to Trump, told ESPN the report was “completely false”. A Patriots spokesman also said Kraft was unaware of any involvement by Trump and had no engagement with Specter or his staff. Specter, who served as a senator for Pennsylvania, was a personal friend of Trump, and Trump has maintained ties with several prominent Patriots figures, including head coach Bill Belichick and former quarterback Tom Brady.
The allegations largely stem from Specter’s son, Shanin, who said his father believed the reference to money was for campaign contributions rather than cash. Shanin Specter said Trump acted as a messenger for Kraft, adding that his father said it was Kraft’s offer. Specter ultimately ended the investigation himself, citing a lack of support from fellow senators and ill health after beginning chemotherapy. The NFL’s own inquiry led to a $750,000 fine for the team and Belichick, as well as the loss of a first-round draft pick.
