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The New York Jets have made a series of explosive counter-claims in response to a lawsuit from a former team employee - alleging that her husband had pictures of his genitals on a team-issued phone.
Elaine Chen, the Jets' former vice president of finance, sued the NFL team over allegations she was dismissed in response to accusations of sexual harassment against team president Hymie Elhai.
Chen has claimed that the franchise retaliated against her and her husband, the team's former vice president for ticket sales Larry Fitzpatrick, following complaints they made against Elhai.
The team later branded the allegations 'categorically false' in a statement to the Daily Mail, and accused the couple of engaging in an 'unlawful conspiracy.'
Now, the team has said in its countersuit - which has been seen by the Daily Mail - that they found pictures of Fitzpatrick's genitalia, interactions with women on adult websites and evidence of gambling (which is barred under NFL rules) on his work phone.
The Jets have filed six counterclaims against Chen, including libel for calling Elhai a 'sexual predator.'
A former New York Jets employee has claimed she was fired in response to allegations of sexual misconduct made against team president Hymie Elhai (pictured)
The Jets have accused former employee Larry Fitzpatrick of having inappropriate material on his work phone
The Jets have also looked into the claims of sexual harassment against Elhai, and did not find them to be true.
Furthermore, the team has responded with alleged text messages, which purportedly show that Chen, Fitzpatrick and another former employee discussed a plan to tarnish Elhai's reputation.
Chen has denied any wrongdoing and said her only connection to the alleged conspiracy was her marital status.
An anonymous email was sent to several Jets employees in July which accused Elhai of sending inappropriate text messages to multiple female members of staff.
The email allegedly accused Elhai of other moments of misconduct, including inappropriate taunts and comments, and Fitzpatrick was one of the recipients of the message, the Jets have alleged.
The Jets have said in the court document that the unnamed former team employee has already acknowledged and admitted that the allegations of harassment by Elhai had no factual basis and that he worked with Fitzpatrick to facilitate the email.
The team has also claimed in the court paper that Fitzpatrick admitted his role in the email to them.
Chen, meanwhile, claims in her suit that they were 'targeting anyone who supported the allegations against Elhai and/or the belief that Mr. Elhai's sexual conduct warranted an actual investigation and/or disciplinary action.'
Elhai is pictured far left during the introductory press conference for former Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (center) in April 2023
According to Chen's lawsuit, Fitzpatrick, who was only referred to as Chen's husband in the filing, 'confirmed' the allegations against Elhai. It claimed he was then soon fired.
Chen has also reportedly accused the organization of discrimination as she claims at least two other employees who also received the anonymous email were not dismissed.
However, the Jets have accused Chen of lying about her involvement in the email and claimed that she knowingly participated, according to their response in court.
The Jets also claim in the countersuit that Fitzpatrick lied about his role in sending the email, and that he attempted to obstruct the investigation by deleting over 4,000 text messages.
Specifically, Fitzpatrick is accused of 'furiously tapping' on his phone once the team informed him they were aware of his involvement in the email.
'The allegations made against Mr. Elhai were taken seriously and investigated thoroughly in accordance with organization policy, and involved third party investigative measures,' a Jets spokesperson said.
'That investigation revealed the truth, with a disturbing twist: the allegations of harassment were not only baseless, but the email at the center of the allegations was part of a deliberate and unlawful conspiracy of then-current and former Jets employees, including Ms. Chen and her husband, Mr. Fitzpatrick.'
Elhai has been with the organization since 2000 and became the team’s president in 2019.
Chen, meanwhile, claims she had 'no firsthand knowledge' of the alleged harassment, but that she had heard accusations that Elhai had allegedly sexually harassed other female Jets employees.
The Daily Mail reached out to Fitzpatrick as well as Chen's lawyer, Claudia Reis, for comment, though they were not immediately available.
