The Vikings and Clayton Halunen, the attorney for former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, will continue to talk and engage in settlement discussions after the two sides met Thursday, Halunen said.
Two days ago, Kluwe announced plans to file suit against the team, claiming discrimination on the grounds of human rights and religion, defamation and "tortious interference for contractual relations." Kluwe said that he was filing the suit because the Vikings told him that they will not release the full findings of their six-month investigation into special teams coordinator Mike Priefer.
Both the Vikings and the independent investigators hired by the team — including former U.S. Department of Justice attorney Chris Madel and former Minnesota Supreme Court justice Eric Magnuson — disputed that claim. In a statement, the investigators said Tuesday they "at no time" said "that the Vikings 'would not provide a copy of the report to either Kluwe or the public.' "
Kluwe clarified in a Wednesday interview with Vikefans.com, saying the Vikings told Kluwe and Halunen that they planned to release only a summary of their findings, not their full report.
Vikings officials have not said whether any or all of the findings would be made public.
Kluwe has accused Priefer of expressing anti-gay sentiments during the 2012 season, and Kluwe also believes his public support of marriage equality led to his release before the 2013 season.
Halunen said Tuesday that he thought "this case was all wrapped up" because he was working with the Vikings on the terms of a settlement that was to be "in concert with the release of the report." Halunen said Kluwe, who has not kicked in an NFL game since the Vikings released him, would receive $1 million from the Vikings to donate to charities that support LGBT causes.
MATT VENSEL
