The Chicago Blackhawks and Patrick Kane released a joint statement Thursday after the Erie County district attorney’s office announced it would not file criminal charges against the star forward because the allegations of rape were “rife with reasonable doubt.”
Here is the team’s statement:
“We respect the announcement today by the Erie County (N.Y.) District Attorney regarding Patrick Kane. The Chicago Blackhawks organization has taken this matter very seriously, and has tried to navigate a very sensitive situation while continually respecting the legal proceedings. At this time we will have no further comment.”
A statement directly from Kane was also included:
“I have repeatedly said that I did nothing wrong. I have respected the legal process and I am glad that this matter has now been closed and I will have nothing further to say going forward.”
Authorities had been investigating after a woman told police in early August that she was raped by Kane at the player’s offseason home in New York. She decided to stop cooperating with police recently, however, and now the criminal investigation has officially been closed.
The NHL also released a statement saying it would review the situation after the latest development.
“In light of the statement issued today by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, as an internal League matter, we intend to promptly review the information that may now be available to us. We will have no further comment until we have completed that review.”