According to a story via ESPN, golfer Phil Mickelson may be in some hot water with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Hall of Fame golfer Phil Mickelson confirmed that FBI agents investigating insider trading approached him this week at the Memorial Tournament. The five-time major champion said Saturday he has done “absolutely nothing wrong.”
A federal official briefed on the investigation told The Associated Press the FBI and Securities and Exchange Commission are analyzing trades Mickelson and Las Vegas gambler Billy Walters made involving Clorox at the same time activist investor Carl Icahn was attempting to take over the company. When Icahn’s intent became public, the stock price jumped.
The official was unauthorized to speak about the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. Reports of the investigation appeared in several newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal.
Mickelson says that he is cooperating with the investigation, stating that he has “done nothing wrong.” While he’s going through this ordeal, Mickelson says that he will continue his preparation for the U.S. Open.
“It’s not going to change the way I carry myself,” Mickelson said after an even-par 72 left him 10 shots behind leader Bubba Watson. “Honestly, I’ve done nothing wrong. I’m not going to walk around any other way.
“I think that as a player you have to be able to block out whatever is going on off the golf course and be able to focus on the golf course.”
I’ve learned to take a wait and see approach in situations such as this because one minute an athlete or public figure is proclaiming his innocence when associated with wrongdoing, then the next minute they’re begging the public for forgiveness. Hopefully Phil is as innocent as he says he is.
