The woman who was allegedly slapped by linebacker Reuben Foster says she believes the San Francisco 49ers attempted to intervene during his arrest to undermine her claims.
Elissa Ennis told "Good Morning America" during an interview that aired Thursday that she felt that police officers didn't believe her after she called 911 from a Tampa, Florida, hotel on Nov. 24 and that the 49ers told police she was the same woman who previously recanted allegations against Foster.
"Even when I called the police, the 49ers came up there," Ennis said. "I have pictures of the 49ers coming up there, trying to talk to the police and say I'm the same ex-girlfriend that sit up there and lied."
The 49ers released a statement Thursday afternoon in response to Ennis' comments.
"The 49ers fully cooperated with authorities, assisted in locating Mr. Foster and in no way impeded their investigation," a team spokesman said.
Ennis said she was in Tampa at Foster's request to discuss their on-again, off-again relationship. Foster and the 49ers were preparing to play the Buccaneers the next day. According to a police report, Foster allegedly slapped Ennis on the side of her face. Ennis told "Good Morning America" that she sustained bruises on her neck and face during the altercation; she also reportedly suffered a concussion.
After Foster's arrest, the 49ers placed Foster on waivers. Niners general manager John Lynch said at the time that Foster was "not living up to what we had communicated and to the energy and the time that we've invested in him." After Foster was arrested on charges of felony domestic violence stemming from a February incident at his home in Los Gatos, California, the 49ers told him that any future legal issues would likely result in his release.
The Washington Redskins were the only team to place a claim on the linebacker. Ennis said she was stunned that another team would add Foster to its roster.
"When he got signed, I was like, I can't believe somebody picked him up," Ennis told GMA. "I just couldn't believe somebody picked him up in less than how many hours? I was shocked."
Foster is on the commissioner's exempt list and currently ineligible to play, and a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that he would not appeal his placement on the list as the legal process plays out.
Ennis accused Foster of assaulting her during the February incident, but those charges were dropped in May when she recanted her allegations. She told GMA she lied when she recanted, saying she did so out of love.
"Love will have you doing things that's not in your best interests," she said, adding, "I did what I had to do for the person I love. I thought that he would change."
Foster abused Ennis on at least three occasions, she said, telling "Good Morning America" she had been punched and kicked, among other violent acts.
The Redskins have said they did their own investigation into the allegations against Foster. Team president Bruce Allen said earlier this week that the Redskins had "heard a side of the story that is different."
Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen told The Athletic that his office is "exploring the legal options" for possibly charging Foster again.
"We are sad, though, not surprised, and exploring the legal options," Rosen said. "The cycle of domestic violence is frightening and frighteningly powerful. Every day, this office faces the challenges of keeping survivors safe and holding DV abusers criminally accountable. As we said when the judge dismissed the case against Mr. Foster: Our commitment to domestic violence survivors is unwavering."
ESPN's Nick Wagoner contributed to this report.