NBA officials met with members of a congressional committee in Washington D.C. on Wednesday to discuss a federal investigation that resulted in 34 arrests and has led to pending arraignment hearings for Terry Rozier, Chauncey Billups, and Damon Jones, according to ESPN.
Billups, the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Rozier, a point guard for the Miami Heat, have been immediately suspended by the league. The NBA had conducted its own independent investigation and cleared Rozier of suspicion before the FBI and federal prosecutors revealed the full details of their case in Brooklyn last month.
The committee members and other congresspeople reportedly sent a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in October, requesting more details related, directly or indirectly, to the alleged gambling ring and for insight into any fixed card games. It was reported that congresspeople also sent letters to Silver.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, said on October 28th that he had sent a letter to Silver regarding “an investigation into how the NBA protects the integrity of the game.” Cruz stated, “The NBA has not been accused of fixing these games and has taken steps to prevent players, owners, and employees from engaging in sports betting. This investigation is designed to ensure the NBA is acting with integrity and the American public can enjoy the sport without questioning the results or fairness of the games.”
Jones, a former NBA player who had an unofficial role with teams including the Los Angeles Lakers, is expected to be the first of the three to be arraigned in a Brooklyn courtroom on Thursday afternoon. He is accused of providing gameday details and revealing player injury statuses to an organized gambling ring for profit.
In the letter to Silver, members of the congressional committee requested details behind the NBA’s decision to clear Rozier of suspicion.
Billups’ arraignment is scheduled for November 24. Rozier’s arraignment is listed on the Brooklyn federal court case docket for December 8.