The first of two \u2014 yes, there are two now \u2014 deadlines for the NBA to answer to Congress over the sport\u2019s ongoing betting scandal will pass today without a resolution. It\u2019s not because the NBA is simply unwilling to cooperate, however.<\/p>\n
Bipartisan leadership for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce wrote to NBA commissioner Adam Silver last week with questions on the heels of federal charges against Chauncey Billups, Damon Jones and Terry Rozier for alleged participation in illegal betting schemes<\/a>. The committee requested a \u201cbriefing\u201d<\/a> from the league by today, Halloween.<\/p>\n An in-person briefing isn\u2019t going to happen by that deadline, however. There is no trick, nor treat, Silver shall pass out today on Capitol Hill. With the ongoing government shutdown (now on day 31), the committee has not held a hearing since Sept. 18, and there aren\u2019t any coming up on its calendar.<\/p>\n In effect, the House briefing deadline is moot at this point. It\u2019s unclear what happens next in that chamber.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s the second deadline, Nov. 10, which was included in a letter the Senate sent Silver this week<\/a>. More on that below.<\/p>\n Here is The Athletic\u2019s explanation of who in Congress is asking, what they want to know, when they might get their answers, how they have the authority to ask Silver questions in the first place and whether this will all end with Silver testifying on television.<\/p>\n Question: There is now a second congressional committee demanding answers from the NBA?<\/p>\n Answer: Yes. On Monday, the Senate\u2019s committee on commerce, science, and transportation, chaired by Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, with Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington as the committee\u2019s ranking member, wrote to Silver with a more pointed purpose than their House counterparts\u2019 Oct. 24 letter. Cruz and Cantwell want to know \u201cwhy Rozier was cleared\u201d by NBA investigators to continue playing when federal investigators eventually charged him with crimes.<\/p>\n Q: Is this simply political theater?<\/p>\n A: No, this isn\u2019t coming out of thin air. Congress has constitutional authority to regulate commerce, and pro sports fit into that category in many ways. That includes various leagues\u2019 partnerships with large sports books such as BetMGM, FanDuel and DraftKings.<\/p>\n This country\u2019s two major political groups seldom agree on anything, but Cruz and Cantwell sent the letter to Silver with signatures from members of both parties.<\/p>\n The House letter (also bipartisan) included signatures from committee chair Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), subcommittee chairmen Rep. John Joyce (R-Pa.) and Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.). Alongside them were ranking members Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.).<\/p>\n Q: What does Congress want to know?<\/p>\n A: On the House\u2019s side, lawmakers asked for general details about ongoing and past cases related to illegal gambling. They also want to know how the NBA intends to stop players and coaches from disclosing nonpublic information to bettors. That\u2019s what Rozier, Jones, and, previously, Jontay Porter were accused of doing<\/a>. There\u2019s also the lingering question of why this keeps happening if there are policies in place. Also, is the NBA rethinking its partnerships with betting companies.<\/p>\n The Senate\u2019s demands are more focused on Rozier. Cruz and Cantwell\u2019s letter directly juxtaposes the NBA\u2019s statements that it did not find any wrongdoing by Rozier against the Department of Justice\u2019s charging him with crimes. They are asking Silver and the NBA to show their work on the case.<\/p>\n In addition to the Rozier information, the Senate also wants answers to questions similar in scope to what the House asked. What are the league\u2019s betting rules and how are they enforced?<\/p>\n Q: What might those answers include?<\/p>\n A: The NBA can reproduce details of past and ongoing betting cases, point to its expulsion of Porter and referee Tim Donaghy (in 2007) for their participation in illegal betting schemes in basketball and discuss its placing of Rozier and Billups on leave<\/a> while federal cases against them continue.<\/p>\n