Ex-WWE boss Vince McMahon is under federal investigation over sex trafficking claims
FORMER WWE boss Vince McMahon is being investigated by federal authorities over sex trafficking allegations.
McMahon, 78, stepped down as head of WWE's parent company TKO Group Holdings last month following allegations from former employee Janel Grant.
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Grant claims she was “the victim of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking” during her time with the wrestling organization.
McMahon is now under a federal investigation Wall Street Journal.
The report claims that over the summer, federal agents “served a search warrant for McMahon's phone” and “served him a subpoena.”
Authorities interviewed “women who accused McMahon of sexual misconduct,” the report said.
A McMahon spokesman said the lawsuit is “full of lies, obscene fabricated examples that never happened, and a vindictive distortion of the truth.” NBC.
“I intend to defend myself vigorously,” McMahon added.
Grant began working at WWE's Connecticut headquarters in June 2019.
The lawsuit alleges that McMahon began sending Grant sexually explicit messages and making sexual demands after he created a position for her in the company's legal department.
Grant also claimed that McMahon tried to steer her towards becoming a top WWE superstar in March 2022.
McMahon texted her: “Part of the deal was f**king U,” the complaint alleges.
The WWE superstar in question was not named in the lawsuit.
McMahon stepped down as CEO and Chairman of the WWE in June 2022.
It followed a bombshell report from the Wall Street Journal accuses him of paying $12 million in hush payments to four women.
McMahon resigned from TKO on January 26, just a day after Grant's lawsuit was made public.
“I stand by my previous statement that Ms. Grant's lawsuit is full of lies, obscene fabrications that never happened, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth,” McMahon said Friday evening in a statement obtained by Deadline.
“I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless allegations and look forward to clearing my name.”
“Out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO Company and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all the employees and Superstars who have helped make WWE the global leader it is today, I have decided to retire step down from my executive chairmanship and the board of directors of TKO, effective immediately.”
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