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Briles releases letter defending actions at Baylor

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports / Action Images

Art Briles released a letter Wednesday evening that denies he covered up sexual assaults when he was the head coach at Baylor.

"Despite the insistence of certain people, I can remain silent no longer," Briles wrote, according to Phillip Ericksen of the Waco Tribune. "Let me be clear. I did not cover up sexual violence. I had no contact with anyone that claimed to be a victim of sexual or domestic assault. Anyone well-versed in my work as a coach knows that I strove to promote excellence but never at the sacrifice of safety for anyone. I did not obstruct justice on campus or off."

Briles was fired last spring after an investigation into the way the program handled accusations of sexual assaults against its players. Last month, Baylor regents claimed Briles hid information on player misconduct and released alleged texts from the coach, one of which appeared to show Briles trying to hide information from the Bears' judicial department.

The 61-year-old responded to those claims in the letter, saying the texts were taken out of context and the school needs to be more transparent.

"Rumor, innuendo, and out-of-context messages, emails, and comments have no place in a true fact-finding mission," Briles added. "The key to growth for the school begins with full transparency, not selective messaging. To participate or, worse yet, instigate such is unfair to the victims, the accused, the programs, and all of Baylor nation. I hope and pray that at some point, those feeding this disinformation will stop, and full disclosure rather than messaging misdirection will take place. It’s long overdue."

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