Subway Suspends Partnership With Jared Fogle Amid FBI Child Porn Investigation, Sources Say
— -- Subway has suspended ties with its longtime spokesman Jared Fogle after the FBI searched his house Tuesday.
"Subway and Jared Fogle have mutually agreed to suspend their relationship due to the current investigation," the sandwich chain said in a statement. "Jared continues to cooperate with authorities and he expects no actions to be forthcoming.
"Both Jared and Subway agree that this was the appropriate step to take.”
Law enforcement agents raided Fogle's Zionsville, Indiana, home this morning as part of an ongoing investigation into child pornography, according to two sources briefed on the investigation. The officials told ABC News that this investigation is an offshoot of the May arrest of Russell Taylor, the then-executive director of Fogle's charity devoted to children's health.
Taylor faces eight felony charges including possession of child pornography. He did not enter a plea, waived a detention hearing and is being held.
At the time of Taylor's arrest, Fogle released a statement to the Indianapolis Star condemning Taylor.
"I was shocked to learn of the disturbing allegations against Mr. Taylor. Effective immediately, the Jared Foundation is severing all ties with Mr. Taylor," Fogle said in the statement.
Fogle has not been charged with any crimes and "has been cooperating, and continues to cooperate, with law enforcement in their investigation of unspecified charges, and looks forward to its conclusion," his lawyer Ron Elberger said in a statement. "He has not been detained, arrested or charged with any crime."
It was not clear if Fogle was the target of the investigation. The sources said the part of the investigation involving Fogle is in its early stages.
Fogle, 37, gained national fame when he lost a significant amount of weight by eating turkey and vegetable sandwiches from Subway and exercising. He was first featured in ads for the company in 2000.
