Smithsonian rejects O.J. Simpson’s suit

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History on Tuesday rejected an offer to display the suit O.J. Simpson wore when acquitted of murdering his ex-wife and her friend in perhaps the most high-profile murder trial in history.

The world-renown museum in Washington, D.C., issued a one-line statement that said only that it would not accept the former NFL star’s suit and the decision was made by the museum’s director and curators.

“There were many considerations, but we really just felt like it wasn’t appropriate and did not fit with our collection,” said museum spokeswoman Valeska Hilbig.

Simpson was on trial in 1995 in Los Angeles County for killing ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. He was acquitted but found liable for the deaths two years later in civil court and ordered to pay more than $33 million to the victims’ families.

Goldman’s father, Ron Goldman, is still trying to collect the money.

Donating the suit Simpson wore when acquitted Oct. 3, 1995 was part of deal to resolve the legal battle over the clothing.

On Monday, a judge reportedly approved an agreement among Simpson, Goldman and Mike Gilbert, Simpson’s former sports agent, to donate the suit to the Smithsonian.

The suit is supposed to be offered to another museum or institution of higher learning if the Smithsonian rejected the offer. It was not clear Tuesday what will happen next with the clothing.

Simpson, 62, is now in jail for attempted robbery in Las Vegas. He said he was attempting to recover some of his valuable football memorabilia.

• This article is based in part on wire service reports.