Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton said Tuesday that the Minnesota Vikings should suspend running back Adrian Peterson until accusations of child abuse against him have been resolved in the criminal justice system.
Calling the allegations and their fallout “an awful situation,” Dayton said he believes Peterson is innocent until proven guilty and that he deserves due process. But he also called the allegations — that Peterson used a switch to discipline his 4-year-old son — “a public embarrassment” to the Vikings organization and the state of Minnesota.
Dayton’s remarks came in a statement released through his office. The governor is in Washington, D.C., raising funds for his re-election campaign.
“Whipping a child to the extent of visible wounds, as has been alleged, should not be tolerated in our state,” Dayton said.
Peterson has denied being a child abuser, saying he was using the same disciplinary methods that he experienced as a child. The Vikings had kept Peterson out of Sunday’s game but announced Monday that he would be reinstated and playing next Sunday.
Vikings spokesman Jeff Anderson did not immediately return a call seeking comment on Dayton’s statement.
The governor has worked closely with the team throughout his first term, both as advocate for partial public funding of the new stadium now under construction in downtown Minneapolis and to help promote a subsequent, successful bid for Minnesota to host the 2018 Super Bowl in that new stadium.