Latest news with #Woolfolk
USA Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Liberty University faces second lawsuit accusing it of mishandling sexual assault cases
A former Liberty University employee says she was terminated in part for cooperating with a federal investigation of the school's handling of sexual assault, according to recently filed court documents. In her suit against the private Christian university, Erika Woolfolk stated she was paid less, required to work more, and the subject of a hostile work environment while employed in the university's office of Equity and Compliance and Title IX. Woolfolk's work involved investigating cases of sexual violence on campus, of which she alleged her bosses would improperly predetermine their outcomes, according to her lawsuit. She claimed in the filing that she shared that information and more about the university's 'systemic violations of federal law' with the U.S. Department of Education. She also claims she was fired for it. She is now the second former Liberty University employee who has alleged in lawsuits that they reported the university's improper and unethical investigations into sexual assault and were later terminated. Most recently, Peter Brake sued the university along similar grounds and his firing was cited in Woolfolk's filing. Both suits also name as a defendant Ashley Reich, a former top administrator at the university who oversaw the Title IX office. In a statement to USA TODAY, Liberty University declined to respond to all the allegations but disagreed with Woolfolk's claims. It stated that her termination did not have to do with her race or her interactions with the federal government. Instead, her firing was tied to "legitimate business reasons" related to Title IX investigations. USA TODAY reached out to Reich for comment but received no response prior to publication. The Biden-era Education Department in 2024 found that the university had created a culture where students and others were afraid to report sexual violence. The university was penalized $16 million as a result. It also remains on federal monitoring through April 2026. Liberty has previously said it believed it was treated unfairly by the Biden administration, while agreeing 'there were numerous deficiencies that existed in the past' with its compliance with the Clery Act. That regulation includes requirements for how universities respond to and report sexual assault and other crimes on their campuses. More: Liberty to pay Jerry Falwell Jr. $15 million settlement after high-profile sex scandal The government's final report found that college administrators overlooked and failed to track repeat cases of sexual violence on campus, and that it failed to warn students of potential danger. It laid out how university officials tried to cover their tracks by seeking technology staff to delete hard drives. Liberty, based in Lynchburg, Virginia, is among the nation's largest and most prominent Christian universities. The school is also hugely popular among Republican politicians. Jerry Falwell, a televangelist and conservative figure, started the school in 1971. The university has grown thanks to online students – about 124,000 combined in the 2023-24 academic year, according to the school – and it took nearly $880 million in federal financial aid for its students in the 2022-2023 academic year, according to the Department of Education. What did Woolfolk allege? In her lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Virginia, Woolfolk stated she earned undergraduate and master's degrees at the school and had been working there since 2014. She initially produced content for the Liberty Flames Sports Network, before transferring to the Office of Equity and Compliance/Title IX in 2018. In that office, she was the only Black employee and faced a hostile work environment, the suit states. She alleged she was paid less than her more inexperienced peers and was asked to work longer hours on more arduous tasks. She said she was denied promotions and accommodations, like remote work, while Reich routinely stayed home, according to the lawsuit. She also described facing racial comments from her colleagues, like one who stereotyped 'Blacks as either 'black-black' or 'white-black'' with more positive connotations for the latter, according to the lawsuit. The suit also included screenshots from Microsoft Teams chats where her peers joked about naming a coworker's new dog after Confederate generals. Woolfolk's suit also states that Reich regularly influenced the findings of Title IX cases, either directly or through another employee. In another instance, Woolfolk learned details of a confidential case were improperly shared throughout the office, which 'posed significant risks of prejudice to complainants and respondents.' That was because members of her team would sometimes have to serve as neutral deciders in cases other than their own. In 2022, Woolfolk spoke to Education Department investigators. Her suit states she told them about numerous violations of Title IX, which included 'systematic efforts to minimize and downplay sexual assault reports; and predetermined case outcomes before investigations were completed.' She also alleged that Reich was aware of her actions. By June 2024, Woolfolk said she had filed an internal complaint against Reich related to workplace discrimination and retaliation for cooperating with the federal government. She was assigned to work virtually, but was fired days later. The suit stated that the university fired her for unspecified compliance issues. She was terminated on the same day as two other investigators, including Peter Brake, who had also raised complaints about Reich. Reich now works at the Education Department where she'll be recused from matters involving the school. In a statement to USA TODAY, a department official praised her nearly two decades of working in higher education, policy development and government affairs, and said that she'll help advance President Donald Trump's agenda but didn't offer more details about her is seeking legal fees and an unspecified amount of Quintana is an investigative reporter at USA TODAY. He can be reached at cquintana@ or via Signal at 202-308-9021. He is on X at @CQuintanaDC
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lil Baby Responds To Arrest Rumors As His Legal Team Blasts Atlanta Police Department
Atlanta-born rapper Lil Baby, real name Dominique Armani Jones, has broken his silence after rumors of his arrest spread and sparked a buzz on social media. Lil Baby dominated headlines on Wednesday after the Atlanta Police suggested that his video shoot in a rival gang neighborhood led to the deaths of two teenagers last summer. However, the rapper's legal team responded to the Atlanta Police's statement, calling it a "complete and total nonsense." On Wednesday, the Atlanta Police Department held a press conference where they announced that seven individuals had been arrested in connection to the deaths of two 13-year-olds, Jakody Davis and Lamon Freeman. The teenagers died after being ambushed at a birthday party in July 2024. During the press conference, Atlanta Police's Homicide Commander, Major Ralph Woolfolk, linked Davis and Freeman's murders to a gang war, which was reportedly connected to the triple shooting that occurred during Lil Baby's music video shoot in Northwest Atlanta in May 2024. Woolfolk said, "Gang violence that was by adults. And the cowardly acts of an Atlanta-based rapper that decided to a rival gang stronghold in a place he knew he should not have been." Although Woolfolk didn't mention Lil Baby's name, reports confirmed that he was referring to the "WHAM" rapper. Following the Atlanta Police Department's press conference, rumors began spreading on Thursday that Lil Baby had been arrested. Some fans reported that the rapper was in federal custody, though no reason was given for his arrest, and no reliable source backed it up. The arrest rumors soon became a hot topic, and many of Lil Baby's fans expressed concern over his well-being. However, the rapper put their worries to rest when he posted a statement on his Instagram Stories about his rumored arrest. Lil Baby thanked everyone for their concern and called the reports of his arrest "fake news." He wrote, "Thanks For All The Concerns, Please Don't Be Misinformed By Fake News!! I'm Overly Good." In addition to Lil Baby responding to rumors of his arrest, his legal team also released a statement slamming Atlanta Police Department for linking him to the teenagers' deaths. On Friday, Drew Findling and Marissa Goldberg, the attorneys for the "Freestyle" crooner, said, "The part of the press conference on Wednesday by the Atlanta Police Department that made an obvious reference to Dominique Jones was complete and total nonsense." They added, "To say that he couldn't shoot a music video in his hometown, a place that he loves and has continued to uplift, is disgraceful." The statement continued, "Even more, the location for a major music video shoot is a decision made by a professional team and is not a decision made by any individual." Findling and Goldberg also said, "Bringing his name into a conversation regarding a terrible crime for which he had absolutely no involvement is unprofessional, unethical and shameful." They concluded, "Dominique is devastated about the situation because those children came from the same neighborhood he did and he will continue to build up his community in any way he can." The Shade Room reposted Lil Baby's statement on its Instagram page, and several fans took turns sharing their thoughts on the matter. Many fans lauded the rapper's legal team for acting swiftly, calling on them to sue the Atlanta Police Department. One fan said, "And the defamation of character lawsuit??? They need that too." Another fan added, "Yeah, placing blame on Lil Baby for shooting a video in his town is crazy. Also, it's not his job to keep the peace, that's the police job." A third fan advised Lil Baby, saying, "Hopefully Baby use this is an example that they trying to tear him down so he can move accordingly." However, a fourth person saw reason as to why the Atlanta Police called out Lil Baby over his music video. They said, "Their delivery may have been harsh, but the message still stands..." The fan asked, "Why go to your opposition's neighborhood to shoot a video when you knew that a shooting would be a possibility? What was the intention behind doing that?"
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
Lil Baby's 'Cowardly Actions' Led To Teens' Deaths, Police Say
Police officers are blaming Lil Baby for an incident that led to the murder of two teenagers. According to WSB-TV, law enforcement held a press conference on Wednesday (Feb. 26) where they shared more details about the deaths of 13-year-old teens, Jakody Davis and Lamon Freeman, and the arrests of seven suspects. Major Ralph Woolfolk of APD's Violent Crime Interdiction Section claimed that the fatal shooting that killed both kids at Freeman's birthday party in July 2024 in Atlanta was connected to 'a gang war,' which started at a Lil Baby music video. An arrest warrant has since been issued for the ATL rapper's arrest. Woolfolk explained that, in the days since Lil Baby's video shoot in rival gang territory, authorities could trace several shootings that were connected to his music video. Police officers hypothesize that the incident that left the boys dead stemmed from a 'high-ranking member of the gang opposing [Baby's] gang calling in a hit from a contraband cellphone inside a Georgia prison.' However, the identification of the man hasn't yet been released. 'The cowardly acts of an Atlanta-based rapper that decided to go into a rival gang stronghold in a place he knew he should not have been,' Woolfolk said at the conference. 'This team will work relentlessly to hold [Lil Baby] accountable.' Officers state that they have posted a $50,000 reward for anyone who can come forward with more information. In 2024, the rapper né Dominique Armani Jones was arrested on gun charges in Las Vegas. 8NewsNow reported that the WHAM artist told officers 'to just arrest him for the charge and let's go,' just before being detained 'on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon' near a Vegas casino. Jones allegedly told the police that he would 'beat the charge' due to having a Georgia gun permit—even though authorities alerted him that that documentation wasn't valid in Nevada. Jones' next court appearance for the Vegas arrest is scheduled for Oct. 1. Lil Baby faces a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. More from Lil Baby Announces WHAM World Tour Dates 50 Cent Trolls Big Meech's "Welcome Back" Bash Getting Canceled Lil Baby Teases Joint Album With Young Thug, Future: "We Got Tons Of Songs"
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Yahoo
Police say Atlanta rapper's ‘cowardly' actions led to innocent teens' birthday party murders
Police say that the 'cowardly' actions of an Atlanta rapper are what started a chain of events that led to two innocent children being murdered. On Wednesday afternoon, leaders with the Atlanta Police Department held a news conference to announce seven arrests in the shooting deaths of Jakody Davis and Lamon Freeman, both 13. Freeman and Davis were killed in July 2024 while having a birthday party for Freeman. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Major Ralph Woolfolk with APD's Violent Crime Interdiction Section said the boys' shootings were part of a gang war started with a shooting at a rapper's music video shoot. 'The cowardly acts of an Atlanta-based rapper that decided to go into a rival gang stronghold in a place he knew he should not have been,' Woolfolk said. Channel 2 Action News has obtained arrest warrants confirming the rapper Woolfolk referenced was Lil Baby, whose real name is Dominique Jones. In May 2024, three men were shot while Jones' music video was being filmed. Police said in the days after the shooting, they saw several shootings and homicides that could be connected back to the music video shooting. RELATED STORIES: Killing of Atlanta teens may have stemmed from earlier violence at Lil Baby music video shoot 2 young brothers went to a birthday party. Now, 1 is dead and 1 is critically injured 'This is your life:' Music artists demand an end to violence following Lil Baby music video shooting Investigators said the boys' shootings stemmed from a high-ranking member of the gang opposing Jones' gang calling in a hit from a contraband cellphone inside a Georgia prison. That person was not identified. Woolfolk also had a direct statement for Jones during the news conference. 'This team will work relentlessly to hold you accountable,' he said. A $50,000 reward is being offered for more information. Channel 2 Action News has reached out to an attorney for Jones for comment. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Washington Post
29-01-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Woolfolk's 21 help Miami (Ohio) beat Eastern Michigan 89-80
OXFORD, Ohio — Antwone Woolfolk scored 21 points as Miami (Ohio) beat Eastern Michigan 89-80 on Tuesday night. Woolfolk added 10 rebounds for the RedHawks (15-5, 7-1 Mid-American Conference). Peter Suder scored 16 points while going 5 of 10 from the floor, including 3 for 4 from 3-point range, and 3 for 5 from the line and added eight rebounds. Mekhi Cooper shot 5 of 7 from the field and 2 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 13 points.
