By: Matthew Melchor
On January 19, 2019, surveillance equipment at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida places 77 year-old New England Patriots owner and billionaire Robert Kraft inside the spa. At approximately 4:45pm, Kraft paid a worker at the front desk and is taken to a back room where two women begin massaging him. Shortly after being taken to the room, the lights were turned out and sexual acts were performed. Before leaving at 5:25, Kraft gives both of the women money and hugs. The New England Patriots owner left the building in a 2014 white Bentley. The officer working surveillance on the massage parlor followed the vehicle and performed a traffic stop to identify the passenger; who was Robert Kraft. The next day, Kraft is seen entering the spa at 10:59am. Again, Kraft paid for his services at the front desk and is led to a back room where a woman performs sexual acts on him. He again gives the woman money and a hug before leaving, this time in a 2015 blue Bentley. Later that night, Kraft attended the AFC Championship game between his New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Missouri. On February 22, 2019, the Palm Beach State Attorney’s Office charged Kraft with two counts of first degree solicitation of a prostitute. The spokesperson for Kraft and the New England Patriots released a statement stating, “We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting any further.” The punishment received from the National Football League is still unknown as Kraft has not been convicted; however, the situation places NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in a tough spot. Kraft is a member of the NFL committee that sets Goodell’s salary, essentially meaning Goodell must punish one of his bosses. If Kraft is convicted, Goodell must decide to either take action against his boss or not, possibly ruining the reputation the NFL and Goodell currently have for strict adherence to the rules for players and owners alike.
