Senator Chuck Grassley, the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has initiated an inquiry into how Jason Krasley, a former police officer, obtained a position as an investigator at the U.S. Center for SafeSport despite his history of sex-crime allegations. Grassley is also questioning whether the Center was aware of any new accusations against Krasley while he was employed there last year.
In a letter sent to the Center’s CEO on Monday, Grassley provided a month-long time frame for a response to 13 specific questions related to Krasley’s hiring. The former vice officer from Allentown, Pennsylvania, has faced several arrests in recent months for serious offenses thought to have occurred between 2015 and 2024, including allegations of rape, sex trafficking, prostitution solicitation, theft, and harassment. He joined the Center in 2021, after leaving his position in law enforcement, but before any of the accusations against him became known. The Center terminated his employment in November upon learning of his initial arrests.
The media had been investigating allegations of corruption within the Allentown police department, which led to the public revelation of Krasley’s past when the Associated Press reported his employment with SafeSport in December. Grassley emphasized in his letter that both claimants and respondents require unbiased investigators who have not been implicated in sexual misconduct, noting the severity of the allegations against Krasley considering SafeSport’s mission to protect athletes from abuse.
A spokesperson for SafeSport confirmed receipt of the letter and stated they would be answering Grassley’s inquiries. It was highlighted in the letter that although many of the charges against Krasley stem from events that occurred prior to his employment at the Center, there was also a lesser-known incident involving his arrest for allegedly damaging a vehicle belonging to a real estate appraiser while still an employee. This incident took place in June, and Krasley was later dealt with in court through a first-time offender program that allowed him to resolve certain charges.
Senator Grassley inquired about the specific timing of Krasley’s dismissal and questioned whether SafeSport had received any alerts about the former investigator’s ongoing investigation in June before his termination in November. He asked for clarification on why the organization did not act to suspend or fire him before those revelations surfaced.
Grassley has been an important figure in SafeSport’s development. In 2017, he played a pivotal role in passing bipartisan legislation that led to the establishment of the organization designed to combat abuse within the U.S. Olympic community. With his current position as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he has significant influence over the organization’s future direction. Last year, a proposed bipartisan bill aimed at reforming certain operational aspects of the Center fell short of addressing concerns related to the hiring process, especially in light of the ongoing issues stemming from Krasley’s case.
Grassley commented on SafeSport’s crucial function in safeguarding young athletes and emphasized the need for rigorous screening standards for investigators to ensure the organization can fulfill its mission.
Following the termination of Krasley, SafeSport stated that measures were already being implemented to reassess its protocols. CEO Ju’Riese Colon mentioned the presence of a thorough background check system, including reference and social media checks, and continued monitoring of staff members post-hire. She noted that the organization has reached out to external firms to enhance their screening procedures.
Colon expressed the devastation felt by the organization regarding Krasley’s arrests in a recent “State of the Center” conversation, emphasizing the negative impact on athletes and the broader movement against abuse. She also indicated that external audits would be conducted on Krasley’s cases to ascertain whether any concerns arose during his tenure. Senators and organizational leaders continue to call for details on how Krasley managed his investigative cases and if there were any concerns raised by individuals he interacted with while employed at the Center.
