Rick Pitino took, and passed, a polygraph test on the Brian Bowen situation.
That’s according to documents released Monday by Pitino’s attorney, Steve Pence.
During the Oct. 6 lie detector test, Pitino was asked A) if he participated in paying Bowen’s family; and B) if he knew Bowen’s family had been paid.
Pitino answered no to both.
Rick Pitino took a polygraph! Asked only two questions regarding Brian Bowen’s family being paid. He passed. #Louisville #L1C4 #UofL #Cards pic.twitter.com/mb208dwsbq
— Phillip M. Bailey (@phillipmbailey) October 16, 2017
Former FBI agent Carl Christiansen administered the polygraph.
Carl Christiansen worked for FBI for 25 years and is a licensed polygraph examiner pic.twitter.com/RgOCEpJqpF
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 16, 2017
According to Pitino’s affidavit, he spoke with Bowen’s mother, Carrie Malecke, after the FBI complaint was released, and she said, “she knew nothing about any money paid to Bowen’s father.”
Pitino says prized recruit Brian Bowen committed to Cards because he liked school and not for money : pic.twitter.com/fi6HwBT7U5
— Chris Otts (@christopherotts) October 16, 2017
Piton was “effectively fired” Sept. 27 in the wake of a pay-for-play scandal revealed by the U.S. Department of Justice that alleged Adidas arranged to pay Bowen’s family $100,000 in return for his commitment to Louisville and his plan to then sign with the company upon turning pro.
Pitino received a text from Maleke two days after the complaint saying she was “totally blindsided” by the accusations and that none of it would change which school her son picked.
Two days after the “pay-for-play scandal broke Rick Pitino got a text, apparently from Brian Bowen’s mother. #Louisville #L1C4 #UofL #Cards pic.twitter.com/U3FrnjFysL
— Phillip M. Bailey (@phillipmbailey) October 16, 2017
The documentation further showed that interim head coach David Padgett said Pitino told his staff after the stripper/hooker scandal that he wanted to know “everything” that went on in the program.
After “the escort matter,” Padgett says Pitino told assistants he wanted to know “everything,” even if player broke up with girlfriend pic.twitter.com/X6x6GPpuOF
— Jason Riley (@JasonRileyWDRB) October 16, 2017
So either Pitino knew about the Bowen situation, or he didn’t know but should have. Neither is a good option.
Pitino’s initial statement on Sept. 27 read, in part:
“Third, as I’ve previously stated, I had no knowledge of any payments to any recruit or their family. But I was the head coach and I will take ownership of my decisions. The University took the action they thought was necessary and I will do the same.“
For more on the Bowen situation, read our New York Times story here.
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