The Chicago Blackhawks have pledged to release the results of a sexual assault investigation once complete, according to a memo sent by CEO Danny Wirtz and obtained by The Athletic. The independent investigation will be completed by former federal prosecutor Reid Schar, who works for Jenner & Block, a law firm in Chicago.
In the memo, Wirtz said that the team would make the findings public and that the organization would implement changes to "address the findings."
"I can assure you that we are using this process to engage in the self-reflection necessary to better our organization and ensure that our workplace is safe and inclusive," Wirtz said in the memo. "And while we await the results, we will continue a process of self-evaluation and take important steps to better our organization."
Speaking later Monday, president of hockey operations and general manager Stan Bowman told reporters, "I intend to cooperate fully with the investigation, and I think Danny was very clear on the direction the organization is taking."
The Blackhawks initially commissioned an independent investigation in June to look into sexual assault allegations against former video coach Brad Aldrich, according to an internal memo from Wirtz.
Two lawsuits have been filed against the Blackhawks, alleging that Aldrich sexually assaulted a former player and a high school player in 2010.
Susan Loggans, the plaintiff's attorney for two lawsuits against the Blackhawks in the matter, told The Athletic in June that she was not certain the investigation is independent. Loggans criticized the team's decision not to publicly release the investigation's findings.
"The statement that they will not agree to release the result of the investigation at this time makes me conclude that it is not independent," Loggans said in June. "If it were independent I believe they would provide the assignment … and make public all of the information they plan to provide, such as all of their files … to the investigator and none of that has been done, so the answer is no, I do not think it is 'independent.'"
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