A Congressman has claimed that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is barring Trevor Bauer’s return to the league over the pitcher’s support of President Donald Trump.
Bauer was suspended 194 games by MLB in 2022 after being accused of sexual assault by a total of four women. The former Los Angeles Dodgers star has not played in the MLB since and has instead had stints in the professional leagues in Japan and Mexico.
The 34-year-old has maintained his innocence throughout all legal proceedings, settling with one accuser while another is facing 16 years in prison after being charged following the alleged faking of a pregnancy and asking Bauer for money for an abortion.
Yet it has been four years since the right-hander took to the mound in MLB and Representative Eric Burlison has questioned his exile from the majors.
Burlison wrote a letter to Commissioner Rob Manfred in which he suggested that Bauer’s lack of a second chance is linked to his past support of Trump.
‘Mr. Bauer was suspended for 324 games; the longest non-lifetime suspension in the history of the league – despite the fact that the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office declined to pursue criminal charges against him, citing insufficient evidence,’ Burlison wrote, via Fox News.
Trevor Bauer was suspended for 194 games by MLB after being accused of sexual assault
Representative Eric Burlison (pictured) has questioned the pitcher’s exile from the majors
The Congressman addressed a latter to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred (pictured)
In July 2021, Bauer was placed on administrative leave as an investigation in to the allegations against him was opened. He continued on leave into the start of the 2022 season, before being handed a 324-game ban – the equivalent of two seasons – that April.
Bauer appealed the suspension and in December 2022 it was reduced to 194, representing the time he missed in 2021 while on administrative leave and the entire 2022 season. He was reinstated immediately but the Dodgers released him before the start of the 2023 season.
‘Given that no legal action was taken against Mr. Bauer, I am concerned his absence may be tied to certain political statements he made that diverged from prevailing league orthodoxy, as well as statements he made that were critical of MLB and particularly you,’ Burlison continued.
‘Specifically, in 2016, Mr. Bauer publicly expressed positive views about then-candidate Donald J. Trump, including comments on social media praising Trump’s campaign rhetoric and outsider status.
‘Additionally, Mr. Bauer, in responding to a social media post, noted his belief that disrespecting fellow human beings should not be tolerated, which was taken as an opposition to MLB’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
‘And lastly, Mr. Bauer made a number of remarks prior to his suspension critical of MLB and specifically you, ranging from expanded playoffs, the marketing of MLB players, to the then refusal of MLB to investigate pitchers using sticky substances. . . .
‘Given the timing and severity of Mr. Bauer’s suspension, it is reasonable to question whether MLB’s actions were influenced more by his political stances and criticisms of [Manfred] and MLB than by the allegations against him, which have since been undermined by judicial review and evidentiary shortcomings.’
Burlison noted that Bauer’s 324-game suspension was reduced to 194, after Bauer was cleared by the judicial system, but claimed that Manfred and MLB are trying to keep him out of the league by ‘effectively making his 194-game suspension a lifetime one.’
Bauer (right) was accused of sexual assault by Lindsey Hill (left) but was never charged
Bauer has since played professionally in Japan and Mexico after failing to return to MLB
Bauer was previously placed on administrative leave in 2021 and later suspended by MLB following sexual assault claims made by Lindsey Hill, who was sued by the pitcher for defamation and later countersued him over her sexual battery claims.
Bauer was never charged with a crime in this case and has maintained his innocence, while insisting that Hill was scheming to blackmail him. They settled their dueling suits in October, 2023.
Meanwhile, Darcy Adanna Esemonu was indicted by a grand jury in Maricopa County last April on fraud and extortion charges involving former Cy Young winner.
It is alleged that Esemonu ‘knowingly did obtain a benefit from Marco Bresciant and Trevor Anthony Bauer, by means of fraudulent pretenses, representation, promises, or material omissions,’ according to the indictment provided to DailyMail.com. Esemonu faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
Bauer responded to news of Esemonu’s indictment on YouTube last year by claiming that she demanded $3.6 million from him for allegedly pressuring her to have an abortion – a claim he denies on multiple levels.
Two unidentified women have also accused Bauer of sexual assault, but he dismissed their allegations in the previous YouTube clip.
‘They both had lawyers first demand in excess of $3 million dollars to ‘not go public,’ he said. ‘In both cases, only after I refused to pay any sum of money did their lawyers make anonymous claims in the media. They both had the opportunity to file a criminal complaint against me. Neither of them did. They both had the opportunity to file a civil suit against me. Neither of them did. They both had the opportunity to participate in Lindsey Hill’s civil suit against me. They could have even done so anonymously. They both refused.’
