Cub on leave while MLB investigates allegations of spousal abuse

Reidy wrote on her Instagram account that she privately debated the opportunity to publicize the violence, which she described as both "physical distress (abuse)" and emotional distress. . She then posted a link to the blog article, titled "You Have No More Secrets, You Have a Story" in her Instagram bio.

"The first time my wife mistreated me, I was in shock, I could not understand what had happened," reads the blog post. "Why did he become so angry, what did I do for him to want to put my hand in?"

Field, who represented Reidy until the case was transferred to Florida, said that he had contacted her on Friday morning and had been informed that she had written the post Instagram describing the physical abuse suffered at the wedding. its cooperation.

"She thought it was time to go out and say these things," said Field, head of the family law practice group for Beerman LLP in Chicago. "I sent him a text message this morning. It's his Instagram. She had the impression that she had nothing else to add for the moment. I do not know if it's a permanent position or not. "

The blog post, which does not name Russell, comes more than a year after MLB opened an investigation into allegations of abuse against Russell.

The survey was launched last year when one of Reidy's friends alleged domestic violence on his own Instagram account, but Reidy did not cooperate with MLB investigators, and Russell was never punished.

"She was not comfortable going out and talking at the time for various reasons," said Field, whom I can not divulge. [attorney-client] privilege. They were on it to try to meet at that time, but she refused.

"I do not know if MLB has already been available, but if they have not done so, I hope they will in a day or two. They were tough enough the first time and were disappointed. They had the allegations of a post from her friend, but not hers directly.

"It's different, it's a message, not his words out loud in an interview, but it's a message, they'll have to check that it's his words to continue their investigation."

MLB said in a statement Friday:

"Major League Baseball takes all allegations of domestic violence seriously. When the allegations against Addison Russell were made public on June 7, 2017, the Investigations Department of the Commissioner's Office immediately opened an investigation. Melisa Russell declined to participate in the investigation at that time. Our investigation of this issue has remained open and we have continued our efforts to gather information.

"With the new details revealed in today's blog post by Ms. Russell, Mr. Russell has been placed on administrative leave in accordance with the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence Policy. We hope that this new information will allow us to complete the investigation as quickly as possible. "

Russell denied the first allegations of ill-treatment last summer, stating in a 2017 statement that "any allegation that I abused my wife is false and hurtful".

The owner of Cubs Theo Epstein is expected to speak to the media this afternoon. The club published this statement:

"We take allegations of domestic violence seriously and support the League's decision to place Addison Russell on administrative leave, given the new details revealed today. We will continue to cooperate with the investigation of the League so that appropriate measures can be taken. "

After Reidy alleged in a 2017 Instagram article that Russell had cheated on her, a woman identified as her friend, Carlie Reed, wrote in a comment that Reidy had been abused. "Melisa did not want it, but I would say it, he hit it in front of Aiden and Mila," Reed commented. (Aiden is the only child of the couple and Mila is Russell's daughter from a previous relationship.)

MLB, the team, Russell and his agent did not immediately respond to USA TODAY Sports's requests for comment on Friday. The lawyer who represented Reidy in the divorce proceedings also did not respond to a request for comment.

According to Reidy's blog, the first incident of mistreatment occurred "a few months" after her marriage – which, according to the online court records in Florida, was on January 9, 2016. She said "torn" and "I I saw a darkness in him that I have never seen or experienced at home or at anyone else's. "

The post continues to detail emotional and verbal abuse ranging from contempt to intimidation and manipulation until "I feel like I'm nothing," she writes.

Reidy also detailed the allegations of cheating mentioned above and writes that his ex-wife has generally come to ignore her presence, which she says has resulted in depression. She writes that she finally chose to go back to her home in Florida and ask for a divorce, but the effects of the violence persisted.

"It took months for the night terrors to stop, not to have panic attacks 3 times a week, to look in the mirror and not feel worthless," she wrote.

According to online documents, Reidy and Russell's divorce was finalized on August 30, more than 15 months after the filing of the original motion.

Reidy wrote on Instagram Friday that she finally decided to present the details of the abuse because "I was seeing more and more of these situations around me.

"I saw the woman I was a year ago at women around me in very similar situations or sadly even worse," she wrote on her Instagram account. "Having said that, it's been a while since I shared my story, a chapter of my life that impacted me more than anything, but mostly about how I overcame it." I hope my witness may touch hearts that need encouragement and strength. "