Probe by diocese clears teens of misconduct

CINCINNATI – An investigation commissioned by the Diocese of Covington (Kentucky) has cleared Covington Catholic High School students of wrongdoing.

But Nathan Phillips, the Native American elder who sang before the chanting students, stands by his “original observation that the situation seemed potentially dangerous” and that the students were disrespectful.

Phillips played a drum before students on Jan. 18 on the National Mall. Some students performed the tomahawk chop, which many Native Americans find racially insensitive.

Phillips issued a statement through the Lakota People’s Law Project to Indian Country Today, reiterating that he felt compelled to sing between the students and a group of Black Hebrew Israelites to serve as a “peacemaker.”

“I ask everybody to remember what we all saw – students performing a culturally-appropriated ‘school chant’ and the tomahawk chop just feet away from me on that fateful day,” Phillips said.

Phillips does not mention Nick Sandmann in his statement. The Covington Catholic junior’s attorney responded to questions about the family’s reaction to the report and subsequent letter from Bishop Roger Foys, in which he exonerates the students.

“The Sandmann Family is pleased with, but not surprised by, the conclusions of the investigation conducted at the instance of the Diocese of Covington,” L. Lin Wood wrote by email. “The report is compelling evidence which confirms the truth of Nick’s statements.”

Wood criticized Foys for condemning the students’ actions one day after the incident. Wood said the condemnation was released “without any investigation whatsoever” and “with a reckless disregard for the truth.”

The Diocese of Covington is among more than 50 groups or individuals the Sandmann family’s attorneys sent letters demanding that documents be preserved in anticipation of possible lawsuits, the attorneys have said.

Wood also emphasized that Nick did not approach Phillips, did not block his path and did not mock or threaten him.

Phillips initially told The Washington Post that a “guy in the hat” had “blocked my way.”

Nick is seen in footage wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat.

The investigation was conducted by Greater Cincinnati Investigation Inc.