New York Jets owner Woody Johnson made 'inappropriate' remarks, according to State Department report
New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, currently serving as the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom, was found to have "sometimes made inappropriate or insensitive comments" on topics of "religion, sex or color" according to a U.S. State Department report released Wednesday.
The report, conducted by the Office of the Inspector General, called for "a more thorough review" of Johnson because "offensive or derogatory comments, based on an individual's race, color, sex, or religion, can create an offensive working environment and could potentially rise to a violation of EEO [Equal Opportunity Employment] laws."
CNN reported last month that Johnson was under investigation after he made insensitive remarks that could be perceived as racist or sexist. Johnson strongly denied the allegations at the time. The State Department report also includes a strong denial from Johnson, who asked investigators to reconsider publicly disclosing their findings that he made inappropriate remarks.
"If I have unintentionally offended anyone in the execution of my duties, I deeply regret that, but I do not accept that I have treated employees with disrespect or discriminated in any way," Johnson wrote in his response to investigators, included in the 39-page report, which was a wide-ranging and mostly-positive assessment of Johnson's work as ambassador completed in May .
In his response, Johnson also wrote that he reviewed a class on workplace discrimination and made it mandatory for his entire staff to do the same, "in order to address the concerns documented in your report, perceived or real."
The report did not include any specific examples of Johnson's misconduct.
The CNN report last month included allegations that Johnson made racist remarks about Black men, commented on women's appearances in a work environment and conducted official business at a men's only social club.
The Jets supported Johnson with a public statement last month. Johnson's younger brother Christopher has been the acting owner since 2017, when Woody Johnson departed for his role in the Trump administration.