Latest news with #TitleXI
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump DOJ sues Maine over dispute regarding trans athlete
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a lawsuit against Maine, alleging that the state has violated Title XI by allowing transgender athletes. Maine's Attorney General Aaron Frey joins Katy Tur to respond to the lawsuit.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Yahoo
Lawsuit filed against former Michigan coach in alleged hacking case
Two alleged victims of Matthew Weiss are suing the former co-offensive coordinator for the University of Michigan's football team, who was arraigned Monday on federal charges that allege he hacked into the accounts of thousands of athletes to access private information, including "intimate images." The federal lawsuit was filed a day after the Department of Justice announced Weiss had been indicted on two dozen federal charges alleging he hacked into thousands of athlete and alumni accounts and downloaded private data, including intimate photos, over eight years. The plaintiffs, who are not identified by name in the lawsuit, are two former University of Michigan female athletes. One was a member of the university's women's gymnastics team who attended the school between 2017 and 2018, and the other was a member of the women's soccer team who attended between 2017 and 2023, according to the lawsuit. Citing the allegations in the indictment against Weiss, the lawsuit claimed that between 2015 and January 2023, the former coach unlawfully gained access to the social media, email and/or cloud storage accounts of more than 3,300 people, including the two plaintiffs, and then downloaded personal, intimate photos and videos. Weiss primarily targeted female college athletes, the indictment alleged. ABC News has reached out to Weiss' attorney for comment on the lawsuit and federal charges and has not gotten a response. MORE: Former University of Michigan football coach indicted for hacking accounts, downloading 'intimate' photos The University of Michigan and the Regents of the University of Michigan are also named as defendants in the lawsuit, which alleged that as a result of their "recklessness and negligence," Weiss downloaded the women's "personal, intimate digital photographs and videos." The lawsuit alleges the university violated Title XI and that its "deliberate indifference to protection against the invasion of privacy for female athletes created a heightened risk of sexual harassment." "Plaintiffs are embarrassed, ashamed, humiliated, and mortified that their private information has been access[ed] by total strangers and third parties," the lawsuit stated. In response to the lawsuit, Kay Jarvis, the director of public affairs for the University of Michigan, said in a statement to ABC News, "We have not been served with the complaint and cannot comment on pending litigation." The lawsuit alleges that Weiss was able to gain unauthorized access to the student-athlete databases of more than 100 colleges and universities maintained by Keffer Development Services, LLC, a Pennsylvania-based company, and downloaded the personally identifiable information and medical data of over 150,000 athletes. He is then accused of gaining access to the social media, email, and/or cloud storage accounts of more than 2,000 "targeted athletes," including the plaintiffs, by guessing or resetting their passwords, according to the lawsuit. "Once he obtained access to the accounts of targeted athletes, Weiss searched for and downloaded personal, intimate photographs and videos that were not publicly shared, including but not limited to Plaintiffs and others similar to them," the lawsuit alleged. Weiss illegally gained access to the accounts of more than 1,300 additional students or alumni from universities across the country, the lawsuit alleged. Keffer is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, which alleged that the company's "misconduct, negligence, and recklessness also contributed to Weiss invading the privacy of Plaintiffs and their fellow student athletes." ABC News has reached out to the company for comment. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the two plaintiffs and as a potential class action on behalf of other alleged victims. The number of potential class members is unclear but is estimated to exceed 1,000, the lawsuit stated. MORE: How Walmart shoppers can qualify for cash from $45 million settlement Weiss, 42, was arraigned Monday on 14 counts of unauthorized access to computers and 10 counts of aggravated identity theft. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf, The Associated Press reported. His attorney, Douglas Mullkoff, declined to comment to the AP following the proceeding. He was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond, ESPN reported. If convicted, Weiss could face up to five years in prison on each count of unauthorized access and two years on each count of aggravated identity theft, according to the attorney's office. Michigan fired Weiss in January 2023. Athletic Director Warde Manuel said in a statement the termination came "after a review of University policies." Weiss acknowledged an "ongoing investigation" and told ESPN at the time of his firing that he was "fully cooperating." "I have nothing but respect for the University of Michigan and the people who make it such a great place," Weiss tweeted after his firing. "I look forward to putting this matter behind me and returning my focus to the game I love." Weiss started his career at Michigan as a quarterbacks coach in 2021 and then became co-offensive coordinator as well the following year. Before that, he worked as a coach in various capacities for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens from 2009 to 2020. ABC News' Nadine El-Bawab contributed to this report. Lawsuit filed against former Michigan coach in alleged hacking case originally appeared on
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Parents file complaint against Fulton County Schools alleging racism, bullying
Parents and civil rights organizations say some kids in the Fulton County School District have dealt with racism and bullying. They filed a federal complaint with the U.S. Department of Education under Title XI of the Civil Rights Act. It includes specific incidents at Creekview Elementary and Findley Oaks Elementary schools. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Channel 2′s Steve Gehlbach was there as representatives from the Council on American-Islamic Relations and Asian Americans Advancing Justice Atlanta held a news conference Wednesday. Parents of an Alpharetta student also stood with them. In the federal complaint, they claim harassment, bullying and discrimination have been aimed at Muslim, Arab and Palestinian-American students since the Hamas attack on Israel in Oct. 2023. They claim the school administrators have failed to take action. 'As a parent, I urge the district to address the incidents outlined in our complaint and implement mandatory cultural sensitivity training, incorporating the Palestinian narrative and perspective,' parent Ghada El Najjar said. 'That hateful ideology must not be allowed to be brought onto our campuses and it is being brought onto our campuses,' parent Nidal Ibrahim said. TRENDING STORIES: Killing of Atlanta teens may have stemmed from earlier violence at Lil Baby music video shoot 57 sets of cremains found in fire-damaged Cobb County funeral home identified Sheriff says despite speculation, he believes missing teacher is still in Lake Oconee Channel 2 Action News reached out to the Fulton County Schools on Wednesday morning. A spokesperson for the district said they have not seen a copy of the complaint yet but said in a statement: 'Fulton County Schools is deeply committed to fostering a safe and respectful learning environment for all students. We take any allegations of discrimination or harassment seriously and investigate all reported incidents thoroughly. While we have not been provided this complaint, we remain steadfast in our responsibility to uphold the rights and protections of every student. Our focus will always be on ensuring a school community where all students feel valued and supported.' CAIR's attorney said the complaint will go to the U.S. Department of Education for an investigation. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Fox News
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Bondi warns three states to comply with law keeping boys out of girl's sports or face legal action
FIRST ON FOX: Attorney General Pam Bondi is warning California, Maine and Minnesota to comply with the federal antidiscrimination laws that require them to keep boys out of women's sports or face legal action, Fox News has learned. Bondi sent letters to attorneys general in California, Maine and Minnesota Tuesday, first obtained by Fox News. "This Department of Justice will hold accountable states and state entities that violate federal law," Bondi wrote. "Indeed, we have already begun to do so." Bondi was referring to the Justice Department's move to sue Illinois and New York earlier in February for defying federal immigration laws. "We also stand ready to sue states and state entities that defy federal antidiscrimination laws," Bondi wrote. President Donald Trump recently directed the DOJ and the Education Department to prioritize enforcement actions against athletic associations that deny girls an equal opportunity to participate in sports and athletic events by requiring them to compete against boys. Bondi said, though, state athletic associations, including in California, Maine and Minnesota, "have issued defiant statements saying that they would continue requiring girls to compete against boys in sports and athletic events." In Minnesota, Bondi said Attorney General Keith Ellison "issued a legal opinion asserting that the Minnesota State High School League would be violating state law unless it continues this demeaning, unfair, and dangerous practice." In California, Bondi said the state "should be on notice," amid the Department of Education's Title IX investigation into the California Interscholastic Federation. "If the Department of Education's investigation shows that the Federation is indeed denying girls an equal opportunity to participate in sports and athletic events by requiring them to compete against boys, the Department of Justice stands ready to take all appropriate action to enforce federal law," Bondi wrote. Bondi also said "Maine should be on notice," amid the Department of Education's Title XI investigation into the Maine Department of Education." "If these or other federal investigations show that the relevant Maine entities are indeed denying girls an equal opportunity to participate in sports and athletic events by requiring them to compete against boys, the Department of Justice stands ready to take all appropriate action to enforce federal law," Bondi wrote, issuing a similar warning to Minnesota and California. "I hope that it does not come to this," Bondi wrote. "The Department of Justice does not want to have to sue states or state entities, or seek termination of their federal funds." Bondi said the Justice Department "only want states and state entities to comply with the law." "And federal law requires giving girls an equal opportunity to participate in sports and athletic events by ensuring that girls need to compete only with other girls, not with boys," Bondi wrote. Bondi told Fox News that "this Department of Justice will defend women and does not tolerate state officials who ignore federal law." "We will leverage every legal option necessary to ensure state compliance with federal law and President Trump's Executive Order protecting women's sports," she said. As Trump's recent executive order, 14201, on this subject says, allowing men and boys to compete in women's and girls' sports "is demeaning, unfair, and dangerous to women and girls." The practice also is illegal under federal law, according to Bondi: It denies women and girls the equal opportunity to participate and excel in competitive sports, in violation of Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972. Bondi's warning comes after Trump sparred with Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills over transgender women in sports, telling her at the White House last week that she must follow his executive order or "you're not going to get any federal funding." Trump recently threatened to cut off federal funding to Maine before clashing with Mills at a bipartisan meeting of governors. "Are you not going to comply with that?" Trump asked Mills. "I'm complying with state and federal laws," she responded, before Trump said "Well, we are the federal law" and "you better do it, you better do it because you're not going to get any federal funding at all if you don't. And by the way, your population, even though it's somewhat liberal, although I did very well there, your population doesn't want men playing in women's sports, so you better comply because otherwise you're not getting any federal funding," Trump continued. "We'll see you in court," Mills responded. "Good, I'll see you in court. I look forward to that. That should be a real easy one. And enjoy your life after governor because I don't think you'll be in elected politics," Trump concluded.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Female swimmers sue to strip trans athlete Lia Thomas of medals
Three former Ivy League swimmers have filed a lawsuit to strip their transgender teammate of her medals. Former members of the University of Pennsylvania women's swim team said they were left 'emotionally traumatised' by training with transgender athlete Lia Thomas and have called for her records to be scrubbed, according to the suit. Grace Estabrook, Ellen Holmquist and Margot Kaczorowski are suing their alma mater, Harvard University, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Ivy League Council of Presidents. They accused the institutions of breaching their Title IX rights by permitting Ms Thomas to swim against women and share their changing rooms during the 2021-22 season, according to the lawsuit obtained by Fox News. Title XI laws protect against gender discrimination in schools and were extended in 2024 by the Biden administration to encompass transgender and LGBTQ+ people. During her time competing for UPenn, Ms Thomas broke several women's records at the Ivy League Championship meet in 2022, which was hosted at Harvard University. The lawsuit, in which Ms Thomas was not named as a defendant, was filed on Tuesday after Donald Trump signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in women's sports. The lawsuit claimed that the team was initially told they would not be sharing a changing room with Ms Thomas, but that the university soon changed its policy. 'Margot [Kaczorowski] only learned that Thomas had been authorised by UPenn to use the women's locker room when she walked in the women's locker room to find Thomas in front of her changing his clothing,' it adds. According to the lawsuit, Ms Kaczorowski confronted Mike Schnur, the team's head coach, in tears following the incident, and that the coach responded by saying 'I know it's wrong but there's nothing I can do'. 'Coach Schnur told the Plaintiffs he would be fired by UPenn if he did not allow Thomas to use the women's locker room and compete on the women's swim team,' the lawsuit alleges. It adds that UPenn administrators invited the female athletes to a talk titled 'Trans 101' that suggested raising concerns about having a trans-identifying biological male that had a 'psychological problem and needed counselling'. It also alleges that university administrators warned them against speaking out about the situation, claiming it would harm their career prospects. 'The UPenn administrators went on to tell the women that if the women spoke publicly about their concerns about Thomas' participation on the Women's Team, the reputation of those complaining about Thomas being on the team would be tainted with transphobia for the rest of their lives and they would probably never be able to get a job,'' the lawsuit alleges. Ms Thomas, who was born male, previously competed on the UPenn men's swimming team from 2017-2020 before being introduced to the women's squad as their incoming teammate in the autumn 2019, according to the suit. The swimmer went on to win the national college championships and became the subject of a major lawsuit against the NCAA over its refusal to prevent transgender women competing in women's sports. A spokesman for the NCAA said: 'College sports are the premier stage for women's sports in America, and while the NCAA does not comment on pending litigation, the association and its members will continue to promote Title IX, make unprecedented investments in women's sports and ensure fair competition in all NCAA championships.' The University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University and the Ivy League Council of Presidents were approached for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
