WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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Former Indiana University Men’s Basketball coach Bob Knight is back in the headlines. According to a Washington Post investigation, Knight allegedly groped four female staff members during a speaking engagement in 2015 at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.
Knight was invited to speak at the military intelligence agency by his long-time friend and current director of the NGA, Robert Cardillo. The Post reported that Knight and Cardillo met during Knight’s early days coaching the Army Men’s Basketball team at West Point.
The four women interviewed by the Post alleged that Knight had groped them, or otherwise physically engaged them in an inappropriate manner, including moments before Knight took the stage to deliver his address on leadership to NGA staff. Several witnesses corroborated the victims’ accounts, although Cardillo stated he was with Knight for almost the entirety of his visit and reportedly did not witness any inappropriate behavior.
The allegations come as the Department of Defense is facing increasing pressure to reform its sexual harassment policies. Cardillo reportedly told the Post that the allegations put him in an awkward position, as some of the victims may have not felt comfortable coming forward due to his close personal relationship with Knight, and may have feared retaliation. Knight denied any wrongdoing and federal prosecutors decided not to file charges.
