President Trump’s billionaire ambassador to the United Kingdom was probed by a State Department watchdog over allegations he made racist and sexist remarks and used his office to promote Trump businesses abroad, according to a new report.
Robert Wood “Woody” Johnson, owner of the NFL’s New York Jets, who has served as the top envoy to the United Kingdom since August 2017, allegedly made offensive remarks about black men and women and became agitated when the embassy held an event marking Black History Month in 2018, multiple sources told CNN.
“He’s said some pretty sexist, racist [things],” one diplomat with knowledge of the situation told the cable news channel.
Diplomats reportedly told investigators with the State Department inspector general’s office that Johnson griped in 2018 over an event at the embassy celebrating Black History Month, asking if the audience would be “a whole bunch of black people.”
Staff at the embassy also told the IG that Johnson reportedly claimed that black fathers leaving their children was the “real challenge.”
The billionaire heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune was equally disinterested in hosting events for International Women’s Day or marking gender-based violence, saying he didn’t care because he is “not a woman,” the report alleges.
Other sources who worked in Johnson’s office told CNN he repeatedly made “cringeworthy” comments about women he found attractive and said he preferred to hire women because they were cheaper and worked harder.
Johnson denied the claims in a tweet on Wednesday afternoon where he defended his character.
“I have followed the ethical rules and requirements of my office at all times. These false claims of insensitive remarks about race and gender are totally inconsistent with my longstanding record and values,” he wrote.
The allegations have come to light during Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to London, where he reportedly attended a dinner with Johnson on Tuesday evening.
According to the report, State Department investigators began reviewing the allegations in the fall of 2019 and staff from the inspector general’s office have flown to London multiple times to interview staff and Johnson himself.
It is unclear if the investigation is ongoing.
Johnson, 73, also allegedly pushed to have the British Open, the venerated golf tournament, relocated to Trump’s golf resort in Scotland after being asked to do so by the president himself in 2018, multiple sources told CNN.
Sources familiar with the conversation said Johnson returned to London after a meeting with Trump in Washington and told his deputy Lewis Lukens that the president wanted to host the tournament at his Turnburry resort and asked which British officials could make it happen, the report said.
Trump denied the allegations during a White House briefing on Wednesday evening, telling reporters: “I never spoke to Woody Johnson about that.”
“I read a story about it today and I never spoke to Woody Johnson about doing that,” he said.
A spokesperson for the State Department told the network, “We stand by Ambassador Johnson and look forward to him continuing to ensure our special relationship with the UK is strong.”
In a statement to The Post, the Jets said: “We are aware of allegations against Ambassador Johnson, which he specifically denied in the following statement earlier today: ‘I have followed the ethical rules and requirements of my office at all times. These false claims of insensitive remarks and gender are totally inconsistent with my longstanding record and values.’
“Since the Johnson family became owners of the New York Jets, the organization has consistently and actively supported, engaged and encouraged the development of many different social justice, diversity, women’s, and inclusion initiatives. These initiatives have been implemented internally and in our community. One of our fundamental principles is treating employees, players, coaches and fans with respect and dignity, regardless of their race, color, religion or gender. These principles have been established by the Johnson family, which Woody implemented in our organization over the past 20 years.”