US lawmaker Specter seeks independent 'Spygate' probe

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US Senator Arlen Specter Wednesday called for an independent probe of the New England Patriots' videotaping practices and renewed his criticism of the National Football League's handling of the case.

Specter, the Repubican leader of the Judiciary Committee, spoke to the press a day after meeting with former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh, who also met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday.

Goodell said Tuesday that the meeting did not reveal any new information in the "Spygate" scandal, in which the Patriots were punished for videotaping opponents' signals in contravention of NFL rules.

He said he would not mete out further penalties against the reigning AFC champions.

Specter, however, seemed less than satisfied,...