Washington Nationals Fire Executive After Hidden Camera Exposes Religious Discrimination

Washington Nationals Cap (Image Credits: Imagn)

Washington Nationals Fire Executive After Hidden Camera Exposes Religious Discrimination

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports
By Paranjoy Goswami | Last updated May 30, 2026 4:50 AM ET

The Washington Nationals were a major force in the MLB during the 2010s, but they have barely competed on the field for more than half a decade. In fact, Washington has not had a winning campaign since winning the 2019 World Series. After finishing at the bottom of the National League East for six straight years, the Nationals are contending for a playoff spot this year.

On Friday, the Washington Nationals fired an executive for alleging that the organization had religious discrimination policies. Sam Hudson was the team’s director of community relations. In video footage from a hidden camera, he claimed the Nationals imposed a social media ban on starting pitcher Trevor Williams for expressing his deeply Catholic views.

“One of our pitchers, Trevor Williams, he is very Catholic,” Hudson said in the video to an undercover journalist. “The Dodgers had a group out to the stadium, [The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence] who were drag queens who were sometimes dressed up as nuns.”

‘[Williams] went on social media like: “This is wrong, this is my religion, you are all mocking it…” Because of that, we don’t use him on social [media].’

MLB team fires staffer over hidden camera rant alleging team placed ban on a Catholic pitcher https://t.co/ShjR1UA99u
— Daily Mail US (@Daily_MailUS) May 29, 2026

Williams vocally criticized the Los Angeles Dodgers on social media for a “Pride Night” event back in 2023. He felt the caricatures of crucifixion and sacred rituals targeted the Catholic community and deeply offended their religious beliefs.

Washington Nationals Could Face Investigation From The Department of Justice

According to FOX News, the Nationals may face an investigation by the Department of Justice over comments by former executive Sam Hudson. A Republican lawmaker dispatched a letter to the DOJ to look into alleged religious discrimination against Trevor Williams.

Trevor Williams (Image Credits: Imagn)

“Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., is urging Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon to investigate alleged religious discrimination against players for the Washington Nationals, according to a letter sent Thursday to and first obtained by Fox News Digital,” the outlet reported.

Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals acknowledged Hudson’s statements in the video clip. However, they claim the comments are false and that his beliefs do not align with the organization’s views, opinions, and actions.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: