JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (TND) — Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey on Thursday announced an investigation into Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas’s office for a social media post poking fun at Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker.
Following Butker’s commencement speech for Benedictine College, where he contrasted “deadly sin” LGBTQ+ Pride with “true God-centered" pride, the Kansas City X account wrote, “just a reminder that Harrison Butker lives in the City of Lee’s Summit.” The account later removed the post, writing it was "shared in error."
Bailey argued the mayor’s office retaliated and discriminated against Butker for expressing religious beliefs when it publicly released the kicker’s residential information.
“Our nation is founded on a bedrock commitment to the free exercise of religion. In addition, Missouri law specifically prohibits faith-based discrimination against Missouri residents,” the attorney general said. “Yet, your office apparently believes it is appropriate to denigrate a devout Catholic for comments he made about his own faith at a religious college.”Bailey also suggested Kansas City government officials misappropriated government resources to find where Butker lived, telling Lucas it was “irresponsible at best” and potentially a violation of Missouri law.
“Missourians deserve better from our elected leaders. Mr. Butker was well within his rights to discuss his religious views-views which are shared by millions of members of his faith tradition,” the attorney general wrote. “Sadly, history is filled with examples of people of religious faith being targeted for their beliefs by government officials.”
Lucas did not immediately return The National Desk's request for comment Friday.
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Butker also said during his speech the female graduates were likely more excited about motherhood than their careers, adding his wife's role as a “homemaker” allowed him to succeed.
“I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you," the kicker claimed. “Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world. But I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”Butker touched on perceived “bad policies” and poor leadership as well, comparing them to the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on the graduates’ “formative years.”
“Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia as well as a growing support for degenerate cultural values and media all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder,” he said.
The kicker's comments led critics to create a Change.org petition demanding the Chiefs “dismiss” him. Bailey warned the team against taking any disciplinary action against Butker.
“To any employer or government official considering such a move, I assure you that I am prepared to use the authority provided in statute to defend the principle of free religious expression,” the attorney general said.
Follow Ray Lewis on X for trending national news @rayjlewis or send a tip to rjlewis@sbgtv.com.
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