The New York Jets are heading into their week five matchup against the Dallas Cowboys desperately needing a win. New York is winless so far this season (0-4) and their schedule isn’t getting much easier.
However, now the team is facing a completely different kind of challenge, and it’s a big one.
Inappropriate Conduct Investigation Underway for the Jets
Aug 17, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New York Jets helmets during the second half against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
It has been reported that a former vice president of the New York Jets has filed a lawsuit against the team, claiming she was terminated for allegations of sexual misconduct against the team’s president.
According to Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini of The Athletic:
In a lawsuit filed Thursday and obtained by The Athletic on Friday, Elaine Chen, the team’s former vice president of finance, said the Jets retaliated against her and her husband after complaints were made against Elhai.
The Jets responded sharply on Friday, accusing Chen of helping fabricate the accusations against Elhai, which they said were investigated and had no merit. “We are filing legal claims, including defamation and libel against Ms. Chen, her husband, Larry Fitzpatrick, and other parties involved,” the team said in in a statement.
“The allegations of harassment were not only baseless, but the email at the center of the allegations was part of a deliberate and unlawful conspiracy of then-current and former Jets employees, including Ms. Chen and her husband, Mr. Fitzpatrick,” the Jets added.
Aug 12, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New York Jets helmet during the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
A lawyer for Chen did not immediately return a message seeking comment on Friday.
Chen said in the lawsuit that an anonymous email was sent to several team employees that accused Elhai of sending inappropriate text messages to various women on staff. The email alleged that Elhai had other moments of misconduct, including inappropriate taunts and comments, according to Chen’s lawsuit.
The Jets said Friday that Chen participated in what they referred to as a “fabricated email” and lied to the company about her involvement. They also said the text messages and interactions attributed to Elhai in the complaint were “grossly over-exaggerated and positioned for the sole purpose of the fabricated narrative.”
Jul 24, 2025; Florham Park, NY, USA; A general view of the helmet and gloves of New York Jets wide receiver Josh Reynolds (83) during training camp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
When the Jets began investigating who sent the email, Chen said in the lawsuit, they were “targeting anyone who supported the allegations against Elhai and/or the belief that Mr. Elhai’s sexual conduct warranted an actual investigation and/or disciplinary action.”
Chen said in her lawsuit that her husband was forwarded a copy of the anonymously emailed complaint, and was “interrogated” about it by the Jets. The lawsuit said Fitzpatrick “confirmed” the allegations and was soon fired, though it did not detail Fitzpatrick’s assertion or name him directly, referring to him only as Chen’s husband. The Jets named Fitzpatrick directly in their response.
The Jets said the former employee who wrote the original email acknowledged that the allegations against Elhai were not true, and worked with Fitzpatrick to facilitate the email.
Chen said she was asked by the team about the email and said her only connection to the situation was that she was married to her husband. She said she had “no firsthand knowledge” of the alleged harassment, but that she had heard that Elhai harassed female Jets employees, according to the lawsuit.
Aug 16, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; General view of a New York Jets helmet prior to the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images
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