Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is taking action against the city of Kansas City after a social media account run by the city revealed the residence of Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, allegedly as an act of retaliation for his religious beliefs. Bailey has requested records related to the management of the social media account and has vowed to hold any wrongdoers accountable.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is following through on his promise to take legal action against the city of Kansas City after a social media account operated by the city revealed the home address of Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker. Bailey alleges that the act was a form of "retaliation" for Butker's publicly expressed religious beliefs.
Bailey has requested records and documents related to the management of the city's social media account after a post on the X account last week revealed the city where Butker lives. The post came amidst a wave of backlash Butker faced after delivering a commencement speech at a private Catholic school in Kansas, where he spoke about his Catholic beliefs.
"We have demanded certain records from the city related to their management of that social media account that doxed Harrison Butker in retaliation for his free expression of religious beliefs," Bailey said. "This is a clear case of a violation of his constitutional freedoms and the Missouri Human Rights Act."
Butker, 28, has faced criticism following his speech at Benedictine College, where he referenced traditional gender roles and expressed views on abortion and LGBTQ issues.
Bailey defended Butker's right to express his religious beliefs, stating, "If you listen to what he said, he was speaking to a Catholic audience at a Catholic university, expressing his sincerely held religious beliefs."
The post revealing Butker's address was later deleted, with Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas calling it "clearly inappropriate." However, Bailey expressed concern that the mayor's review of the incident could be an attempt to prevent the attorney general's office from accessing records.
Bailey has called for anyone involved in posting the message to be "fired and terminated immediately." He also believes that Butker has a legal case against the city, highlighting the potential lack of controls in place to prevent the government from violating individual rights.
The mayor's office has not responded to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. Bailey's office is determined to hold those responsible accountable and ensure accountability for the alleged retaliation against Butker's religious expression.
