Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) accused Kansas City of revealing personal information about the Chiefs’ kicker, Harrison Butker, and vowed to ensure accountability in a statement released on Thursday. “My office is demanding accountability after @KansasCity doxxed @buttkicker7 last night for daring to express his religious beliefs,” Bailey wrote on the social media platform X, providing links to the city’s official government account and to Butker’s account. “I will enforce the Missouri Human Rights Act to ensure Missourians are not targeted for their free exercise of religion,” he added. “Stay tuned.
Bailey’s statement came after the Kansas City government account posted a now-deleted tweet on Wednesday evening that stated, “Just a reminder that Harrison Butker lives in the City of Lee’s Summit.” The tweet was taken down within two hours, with the account issuing an apology, stating, “We apologize for our previous tweet. It was shared in error.” Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas also issued a public statement, describing the original post as “clearly inappropriate for a public account.” “The City has correctly apologized for the error, will review account access, and ensure nothing like it is shared in the future from public channels,” he added.
The controversial post followed backlash to a commencement speech Butker delivered at a Catholic liberal arts college on Saturday, where he criticized President Biden on various issues, including his stance on abortion while identifying as a devout Catholic. Butker’s speech included remarks condemning what he perceived as “bad leaders who don’t stay in their lanes” and highlighted concerns about policies related to abortion, in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, euthanasia, and cultural values. The kicker also referenced Biden’s public display of Catholic faith at a pro-abortion rally, suggesting that such actions may give the impression that one can be both Catholic and pro-choice. While acknowledging Biden’s Catholic background, Butker criticized him and other leaders for what he views as contradictory stances on key moral issues.
Biden, who is the nation’s second Catholic president, has faced scrutiny over his positions on abortion and other social issues. Despite evolving views on abortion over his public career, Biden has consistently supported abortion rights since taking office, while also acknowledging the tension between his faith and his political responsibilities. Butker’s remarks reflect concerns within some segments of the Catholic community about the alignment of political leaders’ actions with Catholic teachings.
