The Sacramento Kings and the National Basketball Association have launched a joint investigation into the sexual assault allegations against Kings Head Coach Luke Walton.
The Kings have hired Sacramento law firm Van Dermyden Maddux to conduct the local investigation. The firm has previously investigated sexual harassment allegations in the California Senate, as well as at area brewery Track 7.
The NBA's investigation will be led by league Assistant General Counsel Elizabeth Maringer, who previously was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York for 12 years.
Former sports reporter Kelli Tennant filed a lawsuit against Walton in Los Angeles Superior Court this week. She claims he sexually assaulted her in 2014 when he was an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors.
An attorney representing Walton has called the allegations “baseless."
Several women’s advocacy groups have called for the Kings to suspend Walton while conducting an independent investigation into Tennant’s claims.
CapRadio's Scott Rodd and Sami Soto contributed to this report.
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