NFL Report: “More Probable Than Not” Tom Brady Was “Aware Of” Tampering In “Deflategate” 

NFL Commissioned Investigation Reveals “Probable” Tampering Of Footballs By New England Patriots.  On May 6, an investigation led by attorney Ted Wells on behalf of the National Football League (NFL) concluded that it is “more probable than not” that New England Patriots' staff tampered with footballs used during the 2015 AFC Championship Game. The report also concluded it was “more probable than not that Tom Brady (the quarterback for the Patriots) was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities.”[Investigative Report Concerning Footballs Used During The AFC Championship Game On January 18, 2015, 5/6/15]

Right-Wing Media Use “Deflategate” To Attack The Clintons 

Clinton Cash Author Peter Schweizer Questions Why Public Is “Ready To Suspend Tom Brady” But Won't Acknowledge “Smoking Gun” In Phony Clinton Scandals. During a May 7 interview with conservative outlet The Daily Caller, discredited Clinton Cash author Peter Schweizer complained that media outlets like The New York Times are “ready to suspend Tom Brady” but unwilling to see a “smoking gun” in what Schweizer asserted was “the same kind of pattern with the Clintons”: 

The Patriots case is a great example...It's the same question. It's the question of 'Who had access to the footballs? Who benefited from the decision that was made? You know, was their evidence that this handling took place?' All of the circumstantial evidence. But you've got, you know, guys from the New York Times, and elsewhere, ready to suspend Tom Brady for half a year based on that. And yet, when you look at the same kind of pattern with the Clintons -- on something far more serious -- that includes far more money from people who have histories of bribing public officials. And you have favorable actions taken on their behalf, they're like: 'Well, there's no smoking gun here.' [The Daily Caller, 5/8/15]

Fox's Kilmeade: "Why Is Tom Brady Held To A Higher Standard Than Hillary Clinton?" On the May 8 edition of Fox News' Fox & Friends during a segment labeled in on-air graphics as a “Tale of Two Scandals,” co-host Brian Kilmeade asked “Why is Tom Brady held to a higher standard than Hillary Clinton?” Guest Ashley Pratte agreed that Brady was being more heavily scrutinized than the former secretary of state, going on to claim that  “we care more about deflated footballs” than the response to the 2012 terror attacks in Benghazi, Libya. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 5/8/15]

Laura Ingraham: “Tom Brady Is The Equivalent Of The Clintons In Sports.” On the May 7 edition of her radio show, Laura Ingraham criticized Tom Brady for not “following the rules” of the NFL, complaining that he was “the equivalent of the Clintons in sports.” [Courtside Entertainment Group, The Laura Ingraham Show, 5/7/15]  

Wall Street Journal Op-Ed Imagines The Clintons Would Approve Of Brady Not Cooperating With “Deflategate” Investigation. In a May 7 op-ed,The Wall Street Journal 's Alyssia Finley imagined a letter from Bill and Hillary Clinton thanking New England quarterback Tom Brady for “taking the tabloid spotlight for a bit” and congratulating him for “stonewalling” NFL investigators. The imaginary letter from the Clintons went on to advise Brady to delete incriminating text messages and emails. [The Wall Street Journal, 5/7/15]

Rush Limbaugh: “Clinton Crime Family Foundation” Got Away With Corruption, So “Why Can't Brady?” On the May 7 edition of his show, Rush Limbaugh alleged that if the so-called “Clinton Crime Family Foundation” was allowed to ignore scandals then “why can't Brady get away with blaming the ball boys?”:

LIMBAUGH: If Bill Clinton can get away with blaming their accountant at the Clinton Crime Family Foundation, if Bill and Hillary can get away with saying, 'Yeah, I just work here man. I don't know what's going on. Hell, somebody's gotta pay the bills here.' If the Clintons can get away with this scot-free, then why can't Brady get away with blaming the ball boys? [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 5/7/15]

Breitbart.com: Tom Brady Being Held “To Higher Standard Than Hillary Clinton.” A May 7 Breitbart article claimed that journalists were holding Tom Brady “to [a] higher standard than Hillary Clinton” by questioning his apparent lack of cooperation with an NFL investigation:

The Wells Report notes that "although Tom Brady appeared for a requested interview and answered questions voluntarily, he declined to make available any documents or electronic information (including text messages and emails) that we requested, even though those requests were limited to the subject matter of our investigation. 

[...]

If a private citizen doesn't turn over his iPhone, he can't play in the home opener. But if a public servant destroys thousands communiques during her tenure as leader of an old-line cabinet department, it acts as no disqualifier for presidential ambitions. [Breitbart.com, 5/7/15]

Media Matters researcher Alex Kaplan contributed to this item