Attorneys for Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs have characterized the recent release of a police case file containing previously unreported allegations of domestic abuse as "character assassination." The lawyers stated that these accusations, which stem from years ago, are old, hearsay, and easily disproven, yet were released by the police without an investigation into their accuracy.
In a statement released to the media, Jacobs' legal team, consisting of David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld, and Clarence F. Duchac III, asserted that the police department's actions are unfairly threatening Jacobs' career. "Josh is answering them in detail because of the character assassination that is occurring, unfairly threatening his career," the statement read.
The NFL confirmed it is reviewing these allegations, which came to light amid an ongoing investigation into a May 23 incident. In that incident, Jacobs pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property in connection with a domestic incident involving an ex-girlfriend in Green Bay. He was convicted of the battery charge in September and spent six games on the commissioner's exempt list before returning to the team.
According to Jacobs' attorneys, the police file includes summaries of three telephone interviews describing events from 2021 and 2022. The legal team stated that Jacobs denies all three accounts and possesses substantial evidence to support his assertions. They argued that the police report did not present evidence of any investigation into these claims and that the department took no action on these "unsupported and stale allegations."
Regarding one woman's claim, the attorneys stated that she made a claim to the NFL, which decided no action was warranted, and that Jacobs has kept evidence supporting his account and the league's decision. They also addressed claims from another woman, alleging she made a claim in 2021 only after Jacobs contacted Las Vegas police to report her for misconduct. A police report was filed that day, which his lawyers say undermined her claims, and no further action was taken.
A third woman reportedly told police that Jacobs slapped her, threw her onto a bed, threw her to the floor, spit on her, and grabbed her throat in January 2022. Jacobs' attorneys deny any physical altercation with this woman, stating she visited his home at her request and left on her own. They point to a ride receipt in the police file as consistent with their account of how the visit ended.
The statement from Jacobs' attorneys emphasized that he took responsibility for the May incident, reaching an agreement with prosecutors for two misdemeanors and fulfilling court requirements. The legal team's remarks highlight concerns about the integrity of the police department's case file release and its potential impact on Jacobs' professional future.